His debut on the yacht Pekljus, was an adventure of a lifetime. But a repeat involvement in one of Australian sport’s iconic events has been placed on hold this year.

Instead, Gregory was on the road the day after a Christmas, among a handful of Wagga sailors heading to South Australia for the national Paper Tiger championships which begin on Friday.

“It’s bittersweet actually,” Gregory said. “I’m excited about what I’m doing. But I’m also a bit disappointed I’m not in Sydney.

“There’s a lot of adrenaline on a Paper Tiger but they’re only a 90-minute race, then a break, then another race.

“The excitement on Sydney Harbour cannot be matched by anything, there’s that many people and that many boats. It’s all just so over the top. And the same with the arrival in Hobart, with a lot of people. And the three-and-a-half days in between is a lot of hard work and soul searching.”

However, the Paper Tiger Catamaran nationals, in Arno Bay (on the Spencer Gulf between Port Augusta and Port Lincoln), hold their own attraction.

As well as a national title, there’s the opportunity to represent an Australian team, with the top 10 selected to head to New Zealand next year for international competition. 

“It’s a once-in-three year opportunity to get on the Australian team to go over there to New Zealand and compete,” Gregory said. 

“There’s five of us going from Wagga, so we’ve got 10 to 15 percent of the fleet. That’s exciting. Wagga has such a strong fleet in this class.

“The Williams boys coming with us, with their knowledge, is a great help. Garry is always there with a word of advice, as someone who has done it for many decades and is a mult-time national and international champion.

“And his son Greg will be at the pointy end of the fleet. He came second last year and will be aiming for first this year.”

Gregory’s association with the Williams goes back to when he first bought a boat, out of The Daily Advertiser.

“I took it to Lake Albert. I’d never operated a sail boat before. I jumped on board and couldn’t get it to do anything! Garry was there, saw me struggling and came and said hello,” he said.

“A friendship grew from there and a love of sailing too, on my behalf.”

If all goes smoothly, 2019 might be the best of both worlds for Gregory, with an international Paper Tigers event and a Sydney to Hobart.

“I’m hoping… I’ll put my hand up (for the Sydney to Hobart) and if the boat’s going again, I’ll definitely jump on Pekljus,” Gregory said.

“And there’s a couple of other boats I do know. Once you’re experienced, they’re all looking for people who have done it before.”

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