ALBURY-Wodonga Yacht Club members performed strongly in the Sail Country regatta at Lake Hume over the weekend.
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Two hundred boats from throughout NSW and Victoria competed including 48 in the popular optimist class.
Wodonga’s Daryl and Michelle Stone led the Border assault, finishing third in the tasar class aboard Artwork.
Indigo Valley’s Oscar Henderson grabbed second place in the 29er class on Yeah Baby.
Albury’s Riordan McMillan came fifth in the Laser 4.7 class aboard Chomp while Mitta Valley’s Ryan Lord finished sixth in the optimist class on Hull Billy.
One of the most pleasing aspects of the weekend for organisers was the high number of green fleet competitors.
They were competing in a regatta for the first time.
Another highlight was the club hosting the International Fireball Victorian State titles with 15 boats taking part.
Black Rock sailors Heather Macfarlane and Chris Payne were successful in the class aboard Not Your Average Rockstars.
Macfarlane is set to compete in the Fireball World Championships at Royal Geelong Yacht Club in February, 2022.
It will be the first time the event has been held in Australia since 1998.
Geelong will also host the national championships early next year.
Lloyd Collings (Freeballing) and Sophie Jackson (Return Of The Jedi) rounded out the top three in a hotly-contested series.
Albury-Wodonga Yacht Club training principal Leanne Thompson said the weekend was a huge success.
“Everyone was really pleased about making the trip here,” she said.
“They are all talking about coming back next year which is what you like to hear.”
The event is now among the 10 largest regattas in Australia.
Sailors, coaches and support crews came from Melbourne and Sydney with children as young as eight taking part.
Many sailors have stayed on to join coaching and training programs on Lake Hume on Monday and Tuesday.