After spending years in the water as a swimmer, in 1944 Jack Carroll was persuaded by a friend to have a go at sailing.
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After a few years experience, Carroll sat down with close friend Bruce Scott, with the pair drafting plans for what was to become the Australian Sailfish.
The Sailfish is a lightweight craft with a fully enclosed and decked hull - first designed by the pair in 1956.
"There was nothing like it out on the water when we designed it, " Carroll said.
"There were no sailing surfboards in Australia at the time."
By the 1960s the Sailfish boating class was created, with contestants from all over the country competing in the vessel at national competitions.
In recent years enthusiasts have been tracking down old sailfish boats, dusting them off and taking them out on the water.
"They're finding the boats underneath houses and up in the rafters of garages, " Carroll laughed.
"At the time we really didn't realise how popular and passionate people would become for the Sailfish."
Recently celebrating his 90th birthday, Carroll also took to the water at the Inverloch Classic Wooden Dinghy Regatta aboard his original Sailfish "Debonair".
Carroll was also one of the first cadet coaches at the Bendigo Yacht Club, and still to this day is more passionate than ever about getting out on the water.
During the sailing season you will find Carroll down on Lake Eppalock where he shares in-depth knowledge on his years of experience with the next generation of sailors.
READ MORE: Yacht club celebrates 50 years
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