Peter Smith and Tony Sutton are members at Batemans Bay Sailing club. They competed for the first time in the event in Mr Smith's RL24 boat namedYaminji.

The Marlay Point race is considered a must-do for small-boat sailors. It is the only overnight race for trailables - boats that can be loaded onto a tailor. The race begins at sunset, and competitors must navigate across Lake Wellington, and identify the opening to McLennan Strait. The current of the river carries the boat during the night, emerging into Lake Victoria at dawn so the boats can race to the finish line at Paynesville.

While floating along with the current may sound easy, Mr Smith said one could dangerously "lose control" in the "strong currents".

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He saw boats crash into trees in the dark, or forced into the river bank by the strong currents. Mr Sutton spent the night at the bow of the boat peering into the darkness calling out navigation instructions to Mr Smith at the helm.

They managed to navigate the perilous night, and emerged at Lake Victoria in the morning to finish 21^st out of more than 100 boats. They beat the other four boats in the RL category.

"That was the first time we had seen those waters, so we could definitely improve our place," Mr Smith said.

"It was great fun. We would definitely go back."

He said the event was a fantastic novelty event because of the added challenge of the river and navigating the current. He hopes to run a similar novelty event in Batemans Bay next year.

Mr Smith has been sailing 50 years, and loves any opportunity to be in a boat.

Just one weekend later - March 19 and 20 - he was competing in the state champs against fellow Batemans Bay sailing club member David Walsh. Mr Smith finished third; Mr Walsh second at the meet.