About 20 boats are expected for the two-day event, ranging from small dinghies through to “reasonably fast catamarans”, according to Warrnambool Yacht Club commodore Don Allen.

“We’ve got everything out there,” he said.  “It’s all handicapped.”

“(Competitors) come from Colac, as far north as Stawell, Derrinallum, maybe Rivoli Bay in South Australia and Portland.”

Allen hopes to compete in the event aboard a Fireball, alongside Jasmine Shears. The pair are fresh off a stint competing in the 2016-17 Fireball national titles on the 16-foot monohull craft.

“It was very windy … (but) it was good,” Allen said of last weekend’s championships at Rivoli Bay.

“We went alright – Jas isn’t very experienced, it was her first time at the championships.

“But I’m glad we finished every race we started.”

The water is expected to be flat this weekend, with racing starting at 12.55pm on Saturday and again from 10.25am on Sunday, with the possibility of three back-to-back races both days.

The Warrnambool event is a regional regatta of Yachting Western Victoria.