The WestVic Dairy worker became interested in triathlons after he helped organise the Couch to Coast triathlon in November last year. 

"I've always been a keen runner," he said. 

"I thought getting involved in triathlons would be a good way to mix it up and try different disciplines.

"I enjoy the challenge of it, transitioning from one sport to the other." 

Couch to Coast, ran by Leadership Great South Coast and Warrnambool Tri Club, featured non-competitive triathlons to encourage healthy living and participation.

The Warrnambool Foreshore Triathlon has a new location this year and is now called the Killarney Foreshore Triathlon. 

The seniors event starts at 9am on Sunday with a 500m swim, 24km bike ride and finishes with a 4.4km run. 

The event will be a step up for Gaffy who took on the Blue Hole Mini Triathlon in January. 

But he said he had been putting in the preparation.

"Probably swimming is the one I've had to do the most work on," he said.

"We had a few practice open water swims in the bay at Warrnambool and at Blue Hole.

"For me that's been fantastic because it's a good chance to catch up with people and it helps build your confidence in that open water swimming."

Meanwhile, a highlight of this weekend's event will be the all-abilities triathlon which starts at 11am and features a 50m wade/swim, 1km bike ride and 500m run/walk. 

The manager of the all-abilities program at South West Sport Mark Taylor said the all-abilities triathlon first started in 2013. 

Taylor said registrations could be made on the day for the all-abilities event but he encouraged people to contact him to register before then.

Members of the Warrnambool Tri Club and Port Fairy Surf Lifesaving Club will support and mentor all participants. 

There will also be a come and tri non-competitive and juniors event at 9.10am and it includes a 250m swim, 8km cycle and 2.2km run.

There will be a juniors 7-9 at 11.30am with a 50m wade/swim, 500m bike and 200m run.

There will be a juniors 10-12 at 11.50am with a 100m swim, 1.5km bike and 600m run.

The event will finish with a free barbecue at 12pm to celebrate the end of the triathlon season.

Warrnambool Tri Club president Brett Barker said the main reason this year's triathlon was moved to Killarney Beach was because the club had lost its major sponsor for the event.

He said he didn't want the event cancelled so it was moved to Killarney which was more financially viable. 

Barker said he was hoping the event would be back at the Warrnambool foreshore next year. 

He said he had been in talks with the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic committee and they were discussing a multi-functional weekend for next year. 

He said part of the plan was to introduce a criterium race on the Sunday of next year's Melbourne to Warrnambool weekend.

The Warrnambool Tri Club would also run a triathlon on that Sunday.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.