Club commodore Adam Cause said the sprint series will be held on the Sunday, confirming the marathon –raced from Manning Point to Taree, will stay on the Saturday.

This year’s event was held on a Saturday for the first time. While numbers were down on the 2018 figure, Mr Cause said the club believes a Saturday race is the best option for the marathon.

He pointed out that 15 boats dropped out of the marathon on race morning when unfavourable conditions were forecast.

“We were hoping to get around 40 boats and that would have been the case if we didn’t get the withdrawals,’’ he said.

“As it turned out the weatherman got it wrong again, because conditions were excellent.’’

The club made the decision to switch to Saturday was made to make it easier for visiting sailors. Mr Cause said there was always a rush after the race on a Sunday afternoon as the visitors had to head home.

Mr Cause said the sprint series on the Sunday next year would be open to local and visiting sailors.

The 2019 marathon was won by Queen’s Lake sailor Brett White in a Nacra 50. He was contesting the marathon in this boat for the first time.

White’s time of 1 hour 15.55 was about 15 minutes outside the record.

Mr Cause said numbers are dwindling across the State for events like the marathon.