A century and a half later, Bendigo yachtsman Glenn Ashby will travel to China in a quest for gold of the Olympic kind.

Mr Ashby and sailing partner Darren Bundock will compete in the Tornado class at the Games as favourites, after a string of competitive successes including multiple world titles.

Last night Mr Ashby bid farewell to Bendigo at a Town Hall event attended by about 80 people, including Bendigo's mayor, Cr David Jones.

Mr Ashby departs for Qingdao - the Olympic yachting venue - on Saturday evening.

"There's been quite a lot of hype and build-up for such a long time," he said.

"When you get to this stage, five or six weeks out, you really need to concentrate and focus to make sure you don't slip off the edge.

"The motivation is all there, we've been training really well over in Europe and we've had a really good training block in China... so basically we're pretty much on track.

"You've really just got to step back from time to time and look at what you're actually doing and realise what you're doing has been a life-long goal."

Jack Carol, who was sailing coach to the junior Ashby, praised the Bendigo yachtsman and his accomplishments at last night's farewell.

"I always knew there was something special about him,'' Mr Carol said.

"I tried to slow him down, but he was a go, go, goer. My contribution was a mere nothing."