THE 33rd  MERIMBULA CLASSIC  presented by the Merimbula Sailboard Club

A FOUR DAY FESTIVAL OF WIND AND WAVES

WAVE SAILING            KITE SURFING             STAND UP PADDLE SURFING


The 33rd   annual Merimbula Classic will be held at Merimbula’s Main Beach from 21st    to 24th November 2013.

This event is a celebration of wind and waves which attracts wave sailors, kite surfers and Stand Up Paddle surfers from around the globe as well as Australia and is keenly contested by an up and coming band of locals.
There will also be two SUP racing events..The Beach to Bar relay on Saturday morning and The Battle of the Paddles on Main Beach on Sunday morning.

For four action packed days the waters of Merimbula Bay become a spectacle of action and colour.

Depending on conditions the water action begins early off Main Beach with the Stand Up Paddle surfers getting as many waves as possible before the morning on shore breeze gets up and drives the SUP surfers out of the water to be replaced by kite surfers and wave sailors.

The event boasts current and past world and Australian champions along with a contingent of enthusiasts keen to get out in water and wind.

For the spectator there is plenty of action to see from the vantage spots such as Bar Beach and the wharf, however the best spot is at Main Beach where you can safely view all the action as well as enjoying the Merimbula Sailboard Clubs famous barbecue.

The Balmoral Paddle Surf, Beach to Bar tag team SUP Off will be held on Saturday morning at 9am.
This is a tag-team race for stand up paddle boards where each team member has to paddle a course from Main Beach to the Bar and back again with the winning team receiving great accolades but probably not much else.
The Battle of the Paddles will be held on the Sunday morning at 9:30am and this is a relay through and “ M-shaped” course through the surf at Main beach.

Over $50,00  in prizes are up for grabs.These include new kites SUP boards and kite boards as well as holidays to Namotu Island Resort in Fiji, a Bali holiday, and Fiji kite tours.
Over the four days spectators will be treated to the spectacular performances of the world’s best in the respective disciplines of kite surfing, wave sailing and Stand Up Paddle surfing.

There is also a busy social calendar nightly at Club Sapphire.
Thursday night is DVD night where the latest DVD movies will be shown on the big screen.
 Friday will host a fashion parade of the latest beach gear along with a disco.
Saturday night will be themed gangsters and molls night with music by the Lounge Lizards band.
On Sunday evening the Presentation will be held from 6:00pm.

Competitors meet daily at Main Beach (Ford Park) and as soon as the wind gets up there will be action aplenty from kites and wave sailors.
During the four days some kite surfers and SUP surfers will go to other nearby locations to practice and test the conditions such as Pambula River Mouth and Short Point, all with good viewing access.

Mogareeka Inlet, at the mouth of the Bega River at Tathra is another popular spot to view kites and wave sailors.

Local ABC radio  810AM / 106.3 FM and 2EC radio 102.5fm/765am report regularly on the action and progress so keep tuned-in, or check at the Tourist Information Centre.
From almost anywhere in Merimbula, when the sea- breeze picks up late morning, look skyward to the east and the thumb-nail silhouettes of the kite surfers will be visible. Or venture down before the wind comes in and see the Stand up Paddle surfers going for it.

Entries are taken from Thursday 21st   following the opening briefing at 10am.

Merimbula Sailboard Club has run the event for 33 years and there is a host of interesting information about the event on their web site so check out: www.merimbulasailboardclub.com.au

John Smythe contest co-ordinator 0407 260015