Happy Skandia Geelong Week!

Today, January 24, is the beginning of a major yachting event called the Skandia Geelong Week. This three day long weekend event is a huge deal in the world of sailing in Australia. The festivities include about sixty live performances on the Geelong Waterfront, more than 100,000 spectators, and everything from aerobatic shows to fireworks to canoeing competitions. Ever since 1844, the Skandia Geelong Week has been known as Australia's largest sailing event.
So, what's the hype about? It may seem boring and questionable to many how so many Australians can get so "stoked" in reaction to such a slow moving event. The strangest fact about this event is that it includes a series of races. Yes, the sail boats are actually racing each other while people watch. This may not be the best way to celebrate Australia Day, but it has become quite an interesting tradition. Even Australian celebrities join in the fun, which is humorous because they're so passionate about the competition. They want the best crew and the fastest boat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2tgJuNwBno&feature=related). In my opinion, this event is hopefully more exciting then they make it seem. It certainly is a tradition that makes Australia unique!