Full sails

The Wild Oats welcome party is again scheduled for Monday night and a ‘vintage nautical’ ball for the Commodores Cup will be staged at the now-sold out Bannisters’ Cheeky Dog. 

Mindful of being a COVID-Safe event, organisers have confirmed that Sail Port Stephens has been arranged to prioritise safety and will be ‘monitored prudently’.

“This time last year we were stuck at home watching Facebook videos of past regattas, reliving the good times, so it’s fantastic to see so many boats and crews able to come back to Port Stephens,” event director Jennie Hughes says.

“Obviously there’s a real pent-up demand to enjoy a great week of racing and socialising in this beautiful part of the world. In fact, the Bay is at capacity and, unfortunately, a number of yachts just couldn’t get a berth or mooring.”

In the Sail Port Stephens’ NSW IRC Championship, 27 entries so far have entered, ranging from David Griffith’s Judel-Vrolijk 62 Whisper down to the Farr 31 Sofarr of Dale Sharp who will defending its 2019 Division 3 title.

The Flagstaff Marine-sponsored Performance Racing Series has so far confirmed 29 starters, including the newly arrived 10.85-metre Beneteau Figaro 3, the world’s first foiling one-design production yacht. 

Included among the five Fareast 28Rs in this division is Chicken Lips from NSW’s Riverina region – owner Mark Hillis renowned for his love of the wide-open waters of Port Stephens: “If we tipped the boat over in Wagga’s Lake Albert the mast would go through someone’s front window,” he said, joking.

Renowned boatbuilder John McConaghy will also feature with his 47-footer Second Time Around – a yacht he designed, built and launched in 1995; sporting a hydraulic lifting keel, carbon rig, twin rudders and a luxury fit-out.

In the Flagstaff Marine Performance Cruising division, 65 starters are set to race – a figure just shy of the 2019 fleet but once again featuring a wealth of cruiser-racers.

In the Australian Sports Boat Association, eight entries will be lining up for the NSW state title, Luke Ratcliff’s Re-Heat and Malcolm Dean’s Shaw 650 The Stig being considered as pre-race favourites.

Finns are expected to be left, right and centre at the inaugural Sail Port Stephens Off-the-Beach regatta, running 24–25 April – a new addition that celebrates the Olympic single-hander and its world-wide renaissance since its adoption of a carbon rig, mylar sails and lighter hull.

Currently 20 Finns from both Queensland and Sydney are expected, which is the biggest class gathering in 12 months, according to Association President Phil Chadwick.

“If a Laser or OK dinghy is too small, the Finn feels just like home to larger sailors of 90 to 120 kilograms,” Chadwick explains.

“They’re like a classic vintage car, really comfortable to sail. The lighter hull and rig help them plane earlier and longer, and there’s no weight jackets … so they’re easier on the body.”

Another evergreen class, the Windsurfer, is also attracting a large number of sailors for the NSW Slalom titles and ANZAC Day marathon.

All Windsurfer Class boards, including Windsurfer LT, Windsurfer One Design and original Windsurfers, are welcomed to join.

With Bay Sailing Centre, Salamander Bay, as the host club, Port Stephens locals can demo-sail the revitalised LT boards prior to racing on both mornings.

For a more detailed list of everything on this week, both on and off the water, click here.

sailportstephens.com.au

baysailingcentre.com.au