Newcastle Port Stephens Yacht Race on the horizon
by Richard Howard on 8 Mar 2014
Yachts lining up to start the 2013 Newcastle to Port Stephens Yacht Race NCYC
http://www.ncyc.net.au/
April is shaping up as a monstrous month of sailing just North of Sydney with a couple of coastal day races feeding into Sail Port Stephens and then the much anticipated Audi IRC Australian Championship being hosted at Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (NCYC) over Easter. You won’t get more bang for your sailing buck anywhere else!
Recent popularity of the Pittwater to Newcastle and Newcastle to Port Stephens races to be held over the first weekend in April is expected to be maintained in 2014. Similar to last year RPAYC will be conducting a race to Newcastle on the 5th April and following an evening of fun and frivolity in Newcastle will be joined by NCYC’s fleet for a dash up Stockton Bight in the annual Auto Advantage Newcastle to Port Stephens Yacht Race on the 6th April.
Of the 11 entries so far received picking a line honour favourite is a difficult. Tom Wood’s Farr 36 Toy Story with its canting keel will be a contender as will Matt Fensom’s Farr 40 Long Time Dead, that’s if some bigger boys don’t come and play! A fleet of about 20 yachts is expected to front up for NCYC’s Newcastle to Port Stephens Race which was last year convincingly won by John McNamara’s modified Farr 40 Iota in light but pleasant autumn conditions.
Similar to last year NCYC’s Race Committee will have the ability to start the fleet in the harbour or offshore, dependent on shipping movements and weather conditions, and will also be able to finish the race of Point Stephens to ensure an event is achieved should the wind and tide not play ball in allowing yachts to fairly race into Port Stephens.
For more details regarding the event and to view a current list of entries, click here.
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