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 44^th 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.