Also competing will be two world champions, over five national champions and two extreme adventure racers along with many aspiring champions, local challengers and anyone else who has a catamaran that floats. It is an event quite unique in catamaran sailing. Blessed with the idyllic waters of Wallis Lake, the venue is regarded as one of the best in Australia.

It’s one of Australia’s oldest annual catamaran events. This year competitors will travel from Melbourne, Adelaide, Bunbury, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, the NSW south coast and as far as Fiji.

Indications are that there will be over 100 boats competing.

Warren Guinea, fresh from competition in Spain, is looking forward to the regatta where he will compete in his F18 catamaran considered one of the fastest boats around.

Silver medallists Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby are regular Wildcat competitors.

Bundock has sailed at the Wildcat since he could swim and Glenn Ashby will again travel from Ballarat to compete in the A Class division.

Ten years ago a young and keen Ashby arrived at the regatta at 2am after driving non stop from Ballarat - quite a feat with a dismantled 18-foot catamaran strapped to the roof racks of an aging car. This year both Bundock and Ashby will be here to keep an eye on the young guns.

In March this year extreme sailors Rod Waterhouse and Kerli Corlette fulfilled a burning ambition by sailing from Sydney to Hobart on an 18-foot Hobie catamaran. During the long weekend they will be in the much more placid but cluttered waters of Wallis Lake and again competing in the Wildcat Regatta.

With national titles coming up for a number of catamaran fleets in December, the Wildcat is the perfect opportunity to check out the opposition and fine tune boats.

Local competitors Brian Bath and Mark Braithwaite are also looking forward to the event. Brian will be competing in the national A Class titles and Mark in the Taipan 4.9 national titles in January.

“The Wildcat is the ideal opportunity to test sail dynamics early in the season and realise the boat’s potential,” Mark said.

Ultimately the event is about participation and what makes the Wildcat such a great event is that everyone is welcome and Forster’s Wildcat hospitality is always an enduring memory.

This year the Wildcat is supported by Zhik sportswear, Hobie Sports and JR Richards and Sons.