Variety Splash sets sail on fundraising rally

12:08 AM Fri 27 Feb 2009 GMT

'Variety Splash 2009 - Melbourne' Andrea Francolini &copy

Over 200 participants in the 2009 Variety Splash will set sail from Mornington this morning as they embark on Day Two of the fundraising boat rally around Port Phillip Bay.

The fleet of around 30 power and sail boats - among them, Sydney to Hobart maxi yacht Skandia Wild Thing - travelled a course from Docklands to Mornington yesterday; will head across the bay to Geelong today; and back up the coast to Waterfront City on Saturday. with plenty of irreverent fun along the way!

With similar ethos to the hugely successful road-based fundraising event the Variety Bash, the Variety Splash also has a serious side - its primary objective to raise money to help improve the lives of Special Needs Children.

It's anticipated the funds raised over the next few days will exceed the $130,000 raised in last year's inaugural event, which went towards providing life-changing equipment for Victoria's sick and disadvantaged children.

Money raised during the 2009 Variety Splash will be added to the tally of more than $150,000 that Variety has raised over the past two weeks to help provide essential equipment and services to schools and communities devastated by this month's bushfires.