The two day sailing Twofold Regatta is expected to be bigger than ever next month.
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The Twofold Bay Yacht Club joined forces with a national championship for the B14 class last year and will again play host to a national title round.
This year, the Olympic-origin Flying Dutchman class has come on board with racing to begin on Friday, February 16.
“They’re a 20-foot keel boat that were used internationally for years,” event organiser Ted Dexter said.
The club event itself is the 44th Twofold Regatta and will be open to all classes from the small X3s and Bic O’Pen single sailors, right up to 40-foot keel boats.
Mr Dexter said the club would have a great layout of courses over the weekend for each class, while the Bay provided a great arena for racing.
Some of the B14s and lightweight cats are among the quickest on the water, but Mr Dexter – who races a 34-foot Evans 10 – said the whole fleet would be capable of hitting about 10-12 knots easily (around 25kmh shore speed).
“Twofold Bay can provide quite a challenge; the wind can look like it’s blowing from just one direction while it’s really quite variable,” Mr Dexter said.
“Twofold Bay is just a great place to sail - it's reasonably protected so you can always get a good sail in - good safe waters and lots of opportunity for different courses.
“When you get two quick boats out on the water it’s only natural to race them,” he adds with a laugh.
He said organisers were hoping for wind speeds of about 10-15 knots, which would provide idyllic racing for the fleet.
“That would be just about perfect,” Mr Dexter said, adding that “sailing is a lot like chess, it’s very strategic and about plotting a course and reading the wind.”
The Regatta is open to all classes and sailors of all abilities are welcome.
Mr Dexter said the club had a great family atmosphere with some competitors as young as seven, while sailing was a lifelong skill and people are continuing into their 90s.
A social dinner will also be a highlight on Saturday night with tickets $30 and bookings are essential.
The club has a number of X3s and O’Pens available for juniors to use over the weekend at a cost of $50 for both day’s sailing.
Safety is always paramount and officials said there would be a number of volunteers and support craft on the water to ensure safety throughout.
Earlybird entries are open online now with more information and entry forms available at the website www.twofoldbayyc.yachting.org.au.