Sail Port Stephens 2009 – A Regatta For Everyone

Sail Port Stephens 2009 – A regatta for everyone…

• Great sailing on inshore and offshore courses - all very easy distances from the marina
• Quality marina facilities at a good price
• Fun, affordable social mischief
• A huge range of accommodation choices from Caravan Park Cabins to 5 Star Resorts
• And plenty of well priced activities for partners and kids to do on land…

It gets a tick on all fronts….sound like a regatta you’d like to sail in ?

It’s all just a day’s sail or a two hour drive from Sydney…. and there’s easy access from Victoria and Queensland with direct flights into Newcastle airport at Williamtown – just 40 mins from the regatta centre….
Sail Port Stephens in April this year was a quiet little success, and the 175 odd yachties and their families and partners who participated in this year’s event have been talking about it ever since.
So lock it in your calendars and make sure you’re there next year !!

Here is what is on offer….and there’s something for boats of all sizes and classes.
From Sydney and further south, you can sail up at your own leisure, or make a race of it with the following feeder races:
1. Race from Pittwater to Newcastle on Saturday the 18thof April – overnight fun in Newcastle at the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (exact details closer to the date).
2. Race from Newcastle to Port Stephens on Sunday 19th of April – drinks on arrival,
welcome function (exact details closer to the date)
On Monday 20th April, at a civilised time of around 11am – the Commodores Cup gets underway – a 3 day - 3 race series, aimed at those who want to have a good sail, and good fun with mates or family on a cruising style course – you can put kites up or you can leave them packed in their bags. The choice is yours – and handicaps will be calculated under PHS.
You’re on the water around 11am each day (some start lines are 5 minutes from the marina!) and back by 4’ish, leaving you plenty of time and energy to enjoy the social fun and spend time with friends and family and fellow competitors.

The Commodores Cup concludes on Wednesday 22nd April – with the presentation that evening.

Then there’s a day off on Thursday 23rd April – you can catch up on work, or you can take in some of the local tourist activities, do lunch, sleep or even go on a bus tour to the Hunter Valley.

From Friday 24th April to Sunday 26th April, the action hots up on the water again, with the NSW IRC Championship getting underway, along with the Port Stephens Trophy for the PHS boats.
Last year’s PHS fleet ranged from an Elliot 7 to an Archambault 40 – with every boat and crew delighted with the courses, the race management…and of course the sailing…!

The IRC fleet were unanimous in their praise of the windward leeward inshore courses, as well as an offshore course to test the skills of their crews, some of whom had flown in from Victoria for the regatta.
All racing is under the master control of well known and respected Principal Race Officer, Denis Thompson.

On the social front, there are gatherings involving a few quiet drinks and dinner/bbq/food of some sort in different spots around the Bay each night, and bus transport is provided to and from the venues, giving you the chance to relax and enjoy the night.

And there’s little chance of partners, wives, kids and families getting bored – for the ladies, there is a fine selection of day spas around the Bay – most of whom will be putting together special deals for participants of Sail Port Stephens ( just another thing that might make it that little bit easier to get that leave pass to get to the regatta and to go sailing…)

For kids, there’s a range of activities like go-karting, horse riding, the movies, whale and dolphin watching , as well as great beaches, bike hire and Kids clubs at some of the resort properties.
Whether you can get away for the whole week, or just choose to do the early week or weekend sailing, there really is something for everyone at Sail Port Stephens.

If you’ve got any questions, please call Jody Ellem on 0416 222 899 or email sailportstephens09@gmail.com

See you at Sail Port Stephens 2009 !