Tim Patton will celebrate a milestone at next month’s Etchells World Championships in Hong Kong.

The experienced sailor is making his 25th appearance in the annual regatta, which features some of the top sailors in the world, as crew of Australian skipper Bill Steele, the former International Etchells Class chairman.

“How could you ever even dream you would be doing this 30-odd years later,” Patton said.

“They haven’t been consecutive world championships as I have missed a few of them along the way.

“But it’s been a lot of fun. I have made some incredibly good friends and still enjoy the racing.”

The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in conjunction with the Hong Kong Etchells Association will host this year’s Etchells World Championships from November 1 to 7, with races to be sailed on the waters around “The Ninepins”, located southeast of Clearwater Bay.

“Perfect conditions, lots of wind and offshore and also pretty big seas,” said Patton, who competed at the previous Etchells Worlds held in Hong Kong in 1997.

The International Etchells Class has been the yacht of choice for many of the world’s best sailors, among them America’s Cup winners Dennis Conner and John Bertrand who remain active in the fleet.

Among the sailors with America’s Cup ties in this year’s Etchells Worlds fleet is Grant Simmer, the general manager of Oracle Team USA, holders of the “Auld Mug”, who is competing as crew on board Australia skipper Graeme Taylor’s boat, Magpie.

“The Etchells is the premier three-man keelboat which thrives in offshore conditions,” Patton added.

“The boat is very fast and close winded going to windward and planes downwind in the right conditions.”

Patton, whose best showing at the Etchells Worlds was in 1988 when he was fourth in Sydney is one of two local sailors taking part in the championships, the other being Mark Watson who sailed on the winning yacht in this year’s Trans-Atlantic Race.

“We’re really looking forward to competing in this year’s Etchells World Championships,” Watson said.

“Hopefully we will have 60 to 80 boats on the starting line, which will be pretty fun.”