Vice-commodore of the Twofold Bay Yacht Club Ted Dexter said Eden was becoming widely recognised as a sailing mecca with two separate classes now bringing their national title to the area. 

He said members of the Twofold Bay Yacht Club and – further up the road the Wallagoot Lake Boat Club – had gone on to big careers at sea or in world competition. 

“A chap I know who used to skipper down here is turning 90 this year and he’s about to compete in world championships in France,” Mr Dexter said. 

“Sailing is not an ageist or a sexist thing and there are a lot of really good sailors to come out of Eden,” he said. 

Mr Dexter joked that perhaps sailing was also a secret to longevity, saying “sailors live forever” and “some of my sailing friends are quite ancient,” he says with a laugh. 

“It provides both a physical and mental challenge and any doctor will tell you that working your brain keeps you healthier.”

But he also said the skills were highly transferable and provided global opportunities. 

“You go to the Med [Mediterranean] and it’s full of Aussies, all the people down here with technical skills like nursing, cooking or a trade skill, if you can sail as well it makes you incredibly employable. 

“Aussie sailors are in demand and you can easily find work in the Med or the Bahamas.”

For both the Twofold and Wallagoot clubs half the pleasure is in getting on the water and sailing, but a big element of the sport is also sharing those skills. 

Mr Dexter said he had been on yachts since he was two and now has more than 60 years of sailing experience. 

“I love sharing those skills and teaching people to sail.”

“We [the club] recently had a couple of four year old boys and their parents out for their first sail and to see the joy on their face was priceless.

“They got to steer and control the boats while seeing dolphins and penguins, to make it positive and memorable for them is hard to match.”

A new year of lessons are also about to start. 

“We'll be running learn to sail sessions down at Quarantine Bay for kids - that's pretty well attended and adults can also come along to that.”

Mr Dexter said the club had about a 15-18 strong fleet available to use and learn on and was always open to new sailors looking to take up the sport. 

You need to be a registered member of the club, but the lessons are otherwise free and run Tuesday afternoons, while the club also has regular Sunday competition sails.

For more information or to sign up visit www.twofoldbayyc.yachting.org.au.