CONTINENTAL bonds By Lilian Bernhardt Photos Supplied
T
wo Sorrento venues are teaming up in a two-year partnership, which honours their local and shared history dating back to the 1800s. The Sorrento Regatta is an annual sailing race held in the waters around the Sorrento pier over Easter weekend. The event first began in 1892, remaining popular for 22 years before the outbreak of World War I led to a century-long interval. One of the earliest sponsors of the event was the Continental Sorrento, who have again signed up to sponsor the event hosts, the Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club, securing naming rights of the event. “We’re thrilled to partner with the Continental; the Conti’s rich history in the township of Sorrento, together with our Couta Boat history, dating back over 100 years, fit perfectly together,” said SSCBC Commodore Georgie Silverwood. The Sorrento Regatta resumed in 2017, and Silverwood said the club and race pay tribute to all the sailors and supporters that served and supported the war efforts leading to the events interval.
E ssence
46 | PENINSULA
March 2022
The event attracts hundreds of sailors and families who are members of the club, and in addition to the races hosts a charity lunch “Catch A Fish” to raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. There is also junior sailing, live music and food, and an Easter swim and Easter egg hunt for kids. Beyond the event, maintaining a strong relationship with the local Sorrento community is vital to the club. They run a Community Engagement Program offering off and on water programs to local schools and organisations. This includes giving students attending the Portsea Camp the chance to witness dolphins and seals. “From our Mornington Peninsula schools to providing a boating experience for some of the students from the Melbourne Indigenous Transition school, some of whom have never been on a boat before, our members, staff and volunteers love to be involved in our community program,” Silverwood said. Co-owner and operator of the Continental’s food and beverage experiences, Craig Shearer, said the partnership felt like a natural move due to both venues long histories in Sorrento and he is looking forward to supporting the club.