Sailing Australia’s regional participation program came to the Princess Royal Sailing Club last week, giving 32 young mariners an opportunity for world class training. The sport’s governing body sent three trainers to Albany to help 32 participants in 25 boats over four days. Star of the show was Nia Jerwood, who competed at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics in the 470 class. She took part in a question and answer session before presenting certificates to the regatta winners. Albany sailors Eden Gray, 14, and Jay Devries, 14, were respectively second and third behind laser winner Hugh Healy, 15. PRSC training and development officer Benn Gray said the program aimed to help regional sailors access the best tuition. “The aim of the regatta was to deliver high performance coaching to regional sailors who usually have to do a lot of travelling to access it,” he said. “This is part of our club’s desire to lift and help regional sailing.” He said it was an opportunity for home competitors to test themselves. PRSC commodore Rachel Hodgson said it was a brilliant day for the sailors. “We have trainers at the club, but it was so nice to sit back in the viewing boat and watch the Sailing Australia trainers in action,” she said. She said the program would run again next year, setting up a trifecta of competitions with clubs in Denmark and Walpole. “We will have the Denmark regatta in January, the Walpole event at the end of February and now Albany at Easter,” she said. “It is a very exciting time for the club.”