With visiting sailors coming from Portland, Warrnambool, Western Victoria, and Melbourne, competitors were pretty keen to get out on the water. They didn’t have to wait long with the first invitational race starting at 11am. With a settling breeze coming from the north-west at 10 to 20 km/h, the invitation race gave everyone a chance to settle into the conditions and tune their boats.

Saturday afternoon was the main event, with three races back to back. Starting at 2pm, most sailors did not get off the water until well after 5pm. A few spills and capsizes in the afternoon were all part and parcel of lake sailing as the wind switched direction and strength with little warning. This tested even the most experienced sailors. The catamaran fleet was flying hulls regularly and spinnaker’s made the racing a colourful afternoon. Local junior sailor Tanisha Knight deserves a special mention, however, showing great resilience in being the only junior sailor to compete in all three races in the afternoon in difficult conditions.

Cat sailor Luke Donovan, of Warrnambool, was the standout multihull sailor winning all three afternoon races, while in the monohulls, Jonathan Pulham, from Albert Yacht Club, and Glen Collings from McCrae Yacht Club were only slightly ahead of the pack. Two local sailors were also in the hunt, with Stawell sailor Ross Bennett taking a third in race one and club commodore Johno Knight battled it out for a second place in the last race.

Sunday dawned with the wind having blown itself out overnight to be a more gentle but variable northerly breeze. Race officer Ian Lane and his crew did a great job to set a consistent course for the two morning races to be sailed to determine the regatta winners.

The junior fleet swelled to four boats for the morning’s two races but Tanisha Knight had gained enough winning points on the Saturday to take out the overall junior win. Luke Donavan continued his unbeaten winning streak in a small cat fleet to take overall first place with Brad Hein and Tim O’Toole, from Portland, earning second place on their Taipan sloop. In the strongest class of 26 competitors, the monohulls, saw Glen Collings in first place, Jonathon Pulham in second and local sailor Ross Bennett close behind in third.