Day 4 at Sail Port Stephens saw crews on the 107 boats enjoy flawless conditions perfectly aligned to the scenic offshore courses set by Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson. A squeeze at the pin end of the start line in Division 1 resulted in Julian Bell’s 51st Project being recalled but slick crew work aboard the big Beneteau…

An enticing combination of sunshine, steady breeze and some fast sailing between Port Stephens’s magnificent offshore islands made for a banner Day 3 of the Sail Port Stephens Passage Series. The wind gods bestowed their fickle favours upon the race fleet comprising 107 boats across five divisions, dispatching a building nor’ east breeze for the…

Sailors were prominent among the big crowd that turned out for the traditional ANZAC Day dawn service at Nelson Bay. More than 500 people bowed their heads in respect for the ANZAC tradition and Australians who’ve served and died, as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the masts of the big fleet in town…

Perfect sailing conditions under clear autumn skies set the tone for a glamour opening day of Sail Port Stephens with crews aboard the record fleet of 108 yachts enjoying some of the best and most scenic in-harbour racing on offer in Australia. A 12-knot south-easterly breeze chimed in on cue for the upwind start directly off…

As a record for the opening days of Sail Port Stephens, a bumper fleet of 108 yachts will greet the starter at midday tomorrow in Race 1 of the new six-day Passage Series, comprising the Pantaenius Commodores Cup and Port Stephens Trophy. Among them are a significant number of first-time entries, the revised race format…

The adage ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ was ringing in the minds of Sail Port Stephens organisers after 15 successful years, however the decision to revamp the regatta formula for 2023 is paying dividends, with competitors embracing the changes ahead of the opening salvo on April 24. Marina berths, moorings and motels are…

Like sausage rolls and sauce or apple pie and icecream, Sail Port Stephens and sports boats have been inextricably linked since 2016, and race organisers are looking forward to another great series with the thrill machines in 2023. The high-performance class comprises a mixed but well-matched fleet of thoroughbred designs such as the Shaw 650,…

Sail Port Stephens (SPS) is revamping its event schedule and revising dates for racing in April and May 2023, having outgrown the previous week-long format that remained largely unchanged since its inception in 2008. The highly popular regatta has been anchored by the low-key Commodores Cup over the first three days, followed by a lay-day…

As so often happens in yacht racing, the story is denied a fitting finish due to a lack of wind when it’s needed most. And it was certainly the case at Sail Port Stephens today, with a predicted 10-knot sou’easter failing to materialise. Inshore and offshore, they sat, with no fairy tales coming true for…

The best laid schemes of mice, men and race committees often go awry, especially in the fluid environment of yacht racing, and Day 6 of Sail Port Stephens 2022 was one of those days. Plans were announced at the morning briefing to send the entire fleet offshore, a popular tradition of Sailebration Saturday, yet the…