Sail Port Stephens 2024 has wrapped up after 11 huge days of sailing, spanning three weeks and involving 215 boats. It culminated yesterday with the inshore Bay Series comprising J70s, sports boats and off-the-beach classes. Racing began on Friday for the J70s, which included TP52 luminaries Sam Haynes (Celestial) and David Doherty (Matador) who’d contested…
Age has not wearied two veterans of Australian sailing, with Marcus Blackmore and Ray Roberts claiming prestigious NSW IRC titles at the Sail Port Stephens Windward-Leeward Series over the weekend. Blackmore’s new Hooligan claimed Division 1 honours against arguably the strongest fleet of TP52s assembled in Australia, handing David Doherty’s all-conquering Matador a rare defeat,…
The Sail Port Stephens Windward-Leeward Series transitioned to Passage Race mode today, and with the change of pace came a change of pace, literally, as both the wind and seas calmed considerably. Racing began in the shadows of Mount Tomaree, at the entrance to Port Stephens, in near drifting conditions as the morning nor’westerly yielded…
Rock fishermen were being advised to stay indoors but the sea conditions off Port Stephens made for an action-packed opener to the Anchorage Marina Windward-Leeward Series, part 2 of the 2024 Sail Port Stephens Regatta Series comprising the NSW IRC Yachting Championships, Pallas Capital Gold Cup Act 3 and Rob Hampshire Trophy. A crewman from…
With only a few points separating rivals across each of the five divisions contesting the Sail Port Stephens Passage Series (Commodores Cup PHS), the prospect of receiving a thorough rinsing in the rain didn’t deter the bulk of the 115-strong fleet from turning out. An outgoing tide and a light upwind start resulted in a…
“Sheer enjoyment”. That was way Nicky Bethwaite summed-up her experience of the combination inshore/offshore course set by the Race Committee for the fourth race of the five race Passage Series. The two-time Olympian helmed the distinctive gold-hulled super-skiff Don’t Panic to a podium result in Division 1, behind Virago and MC38 Botany Access. Don’t Panic,…
By day three in regattas the cobwebs have been shaken-off, the crew dynamics are coming together and the muscle memory of putting-in an optimum tack or bear-away set should be kicking in. And that’s pretty much how it panned out on Day 3 of the Sail Port Stephens Passage Series, which got underway in brilliant…
Yesterday was my first time ever witnessing first-hand the thrill of a major race, including 5 divisions and 114 boats of all shapes and sizes. The energy down at the docks before the race was electric as I walked around taking some photos of the preparations. Everyone was there to have a good time out…
The best aspects of regatta sailing crystalised for the record fleet contesting the second day of the Passage Series comprising the Commodores Cup and Port Stephens Trophy. It turned-out to be a highly memorable day of threading out through the Port Stephens Heads and around the course’s spectacular offshore islands, before a champagne run under…
The delightful unpredictability of yacht racing in light airs ensured a nail-biting opening day for crews aboard the record fleet of 115 boats assembled for the Sail Port Stephens Passage Series (Commodores Cup). Pre-regatta forecasts of balmy breezes of six to eight knots for the first two days of the regatta proved accurate as spinnakers…