Georges River Sailing Club at Sandringham hosted some of the country's best young sailors over the Queen's Birthday long weekend during the IODA East Coast Championships.
The NSW IODA (International Optimistic Dinghy Association) event saw approximately 150 accomplished young sailors have their last hit-out on the water before many depart for international championships and competitions, including the Youth Sailing World Championships held next month in Poland.
From as far north as the Whitsunday's, crews from around the nation assembled on the sand of Lady Robinsons Beach early on Saturday morning as they prepared for a weekend of stiff competition.
Each boat which took part in the event, competed in as many as nine individual races over the course of three days, to decide on the East Coast Champion in their own classes.
Connells Point Sailing Club's, Elia Sellers captured 3rd overall on scratch in the toughly contested Opti-Intermediate class.
St George Sailing Club life member and race volunteer John Andrew said the lack of wind at times during the championships proved to be a challenge for sailors.
"The trouble was there was hardly any decent wind and it turned out to be a lucky dip as to whether the sailor would be in the right position to have the small wind that there was behind their sails," Andrew said.
"It (the wind) was just swinging all over the place and none of us could really get a read on it".
Despite the lack of wind, IODA Class Measurer and committee member Bryce Conrad spoke glowingly on both the event and the management of the GRSC in hosting it.
"It was an absolutely fantastic event with plenty of volunteers and great organisation," Conrad said.
"Despite the lack of winds everyone had a great time and was great preparation for worlds (World Championships) and everyone that competed and was involved had a great time".
Conrad also was full of praise for Australia Sailing Youth Pathways stating that the event would be beneficial to young sailors who one day aspired to compete at the Olympic Games.
"The youth pathways system is definitely a tremendous way for the young sailors to prepare for one day competing in Olympic class boats," he said.
"All of the coaches have either competed in the Olympics or have coached Olympians so the sailors are able to get excellent feedback on how to improve and how to compete at their very best."