Dates set for 2009

Lock it in your diaries...and get ready for the fun again next year.

Dates have been set for Sail Port Stephens 2009 and are as follows:

Feeder Races

1. Pittwater to Newcastle - Saturday April 18

2. Newcastle to Port Stephens - Sunday April 19

The cruisey Commodores Cup starts on Monday April 20 and concludes on Wednesday April 22, with the official presentation that evening.

Thursday April 23 is a lay day before the action starts again on
Friday April 24 with the NSW IRC Championships and the Port Stephens Trophy (PHS).

Racing will wrap up on Sunday afternoon (April 26) , with the official presentation to follow the last race.   

Access to Photos for Sail Port Stephens

Please contact Kirk Maclean directly on 0403 679299 or email on kirkphotog@nelsonbay.com for any photo enquiries

A quiet little success in 2008

From little things, big things can grow, and organisers are pleased with the results of the inaugural Sail Port Stephens Regatta.

Limit, owned by Alan Brierty from Western Australia, was the decisive winner of the NSW IRC Championship, and Premier Cru, owned by Newcastle businessman Keith Stronach, claimed the PHS title, taking home the Port Stephens Trophy.

25 boats took part in the event, and close to 200 competitors, along with their wives, partners, girlfriends, mates and families, enjoyed the activities on offer - both on and off the water.

The cruisey start to the regatta, the Commodores Cup at the beginning of the week was a popular format, and looks set to attract more boats next year.

Stay tuned for further updates on dates for 2009.

Premier Cru win PHS Trophy

A collection of sailors from Newcastle and Lake Macquarie has combined their knowledge and experience to claim the Port Stephens Trophy (PHS) at the inaugural Sail Port Stephens regatta.

Premier Cru, an Archambault 40 owned and skippered by Keith Stronach took one 1st and two 3rd places, sailing consistantly across all conditions over the 3 days, ranging from almost becalmed, to a lumpy swell with wind gusts of up to 18 knots in Shoal Bay.

Premier Cru began their Sail Port Stephens campaign with the feeder race from Newcastle last Sunday (20th April).

They left the boat in safe hands at Peppers Anchorage for the first part of the week, returning to resume racing over the long weekend.

Stronach is delighted with the win and says the result is another reinforcing factor that makes him very happy to be sailing an Archambault.

Saturday weather a Glamour !

Picture perfect blue skies and plenty of sunshine was a pleasant wake up call for a few party weary sailors today as racing continued in the NSW IRC Championships and the PHS Port Stephens Trophy at Sail Port Stephens.

Racing for both the IRC and PHS fleets was offshore today, and after 7 days of constant heavy rain, it was a welcome change to swap the wet weather gear for shorts and a t-shirt – and put on some sunscreen !

With a 8 to 10 knot south westerly breeze in the first IRC race of the day,(race 3 of the series), Limit got pole position on the start line and at 49 foot, being the biggest boat in the fleet, naturally pulled away quickly to get clean air and set up their own terms for the course – taking an easy line honours and handicap.

First race was a two lap windward leeward north of Cabbage Tree Island and race 2 of the day struggled in a dying breeze, with the back end of the fleet just beating the time limit.

A glassy sea state on a low swell made for very pleasant sailing conditions, which was probably good medicine for those nursing little hangovers from last night’s SLAM Beach Party at Shoal Bay Resort.

Limit owner and skipper Alan Brierty was delighted with the effort today, and believes that the crew that has assembled over the last 18 months is finding a good work ethic together.

With a grin from ear to ear beaming from underneath his trademark black cowboy hat (he is one of the original boys from the wild west after all) – he summed up today in two words “All good".