News: Sydney Harbour Week gets going

The week-long program includes more than 25 activities and many are free.

Sixteen warships will steam into Sydney to create the biggest naval fleet seen in the harbour since the 1988 bicentennial celebrations.

But the main event for recreational sailors is unquestionably the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta. Host Middle Harbour Yacht Club has laid extra swing moorings to accommodate the huge flotilla of more than 350 yachts racing in all manner of classes on the harbour.

The yacht club is staging shore-based family entertainment all weekend and you can also try yachting with the in-house sailing school.

Meanwhile, the Wooden Boat Association is hosting a free festival of classic and historic wooden boats at Cockle Bay Marina in Darling Harbour.

Catch a free ride on the Sydney Heritage Fleet's fetching steamship Protex, which is celebrating its 100th birthday, or grab a crew berth on a tall-ship.

This Sunday, swimmers will be walking on water in the Bridge to Beach ocean swim and paddle from the Harbour Bridge to Manly Cove.

Various scuba diving schools are hosting underwater tours, electric boats are running trips from Northbridge Marina, a sausage sizzle will be held by the National Maritime Museum, and thereÕs a picnic at Shark Island.

See www.sydneyharbourweek.com.au for a full program of events. See you on Sydney's premier waterway.