Australian Laser Masters Nationals - Port Stephens 11-14th Feb 2011

by Colin Cain & PSA Media on 9 Nov 2010 The Australian Laser Masters Nationals – the first Masters Nationals in Australia for more than 25 years – are being held at the beautiful holiday resort of Port Stephens this coming February. Situated about160km (100 miles) north of Sydney, Port Stephens is (or 15 minutes from Newcastle Airport) or 2½ hour drive up the freeway from Sydney Airport.

Its a large area of sheltered waterways, its approximately 119 square kilometres (46 sq miles) of crystal clear waterways Port Stephens is quite a bit larger than Sydney Harbour, only without the constant commecial traffic and its been a popular venue for Laser titles as well as for keel boats including the Sydney 38's and Farr 40's.


Michael Mills, the veteran Laser sailor from Port Stephens Sailing Club on Australia’s East coast is one of the key players behind the 2011 Masters event.

Mills, who founded NB Laser on the NSW Central coast, is these days the Regatta Support Officer for Laser builder Performance Sail Craft(PSA)and he definitely has his finger on the pulse, watching the ever expanding Junior, Women and Standard fields but he sees the growth in the number of Laser Master sailors.

‘The program for Masters just keeps getting better and better.

Looking ahead to this summer, the 2011 Laser Nationals are being held at George’s River Sailing Club from the 27th of December 2010 to the fourth of January 2011.

Mills details the Masters dates ‘February 2011 – it’s from the 11th to the 14th of February; that’s Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Port Stephens at Salamander Bay at the Port Stephens Sailing and Aquatic Club on the beautiful waters of Salamander Bay.

‘At that time of year there will be virtually no one else there. School holidays are over and this is one of the reasons we’ve put it into this period; it takes it out of the normal tourist time. The other side of it is that when you go to an area we’re hopefully being welcomed, because we want to go to a popular area and we’re going to bring in 200 to 250 competitors.

‘Port Stephens – at the sailing club here we’ve just held the State Titles in February 2010.

We’ve held the State Titles on three or four occasions; we’ve also had the Masters State Titles on three or four occasions. It’s always a popular venue particularly for the Laser Masters. I think Port Stephens was the first place the Laser Master fleet ever broke over 100 entries.

‘Within those Master categories we also have quite a few active women, notably Vanessa Dudley, who’s almost like a reborn sailor –She is a highly regarded offshore helm but she’s got back into Laser sailing. Women all sail Radials; there’s a separate women’s division within the groups. They race in their age group but there’s an overall women’s prize. She’s a Master and currently beating a lot of the guys. She’s full of enthusiasm and enjoying it.

‘Particularly people who come to it a bit later in their mid 40s and things like that it reinvigorate you: it gives you a zest for life, it gives you a new perspective on things.

‘There’s clubs all over the place who have got quite active Laser fleets and they tend to be older, like Port Stephens Sailing Club. We have probably 20 boats in the club, which are basically all Lasers. The average age would be over 40; we range from a chap who is 77 and who still occasionally sails the big rig depending on the day, and our youngest member is probably 18.

'For the 2011 Master Nationals, we’re expecting some overseas competitors. There’s one guy coming from the UK already and we expect a few of the New Zealanders to come over.

‘As always, we [PSA] will have the regatta service vehicle at the Laser Master, as we do at most major Laser events to support the local Laser dealer but we’re also doing charter boats. Charter boats are delivered to the regatta site and there will be with support service available throughout the regatta. '

Accommodation caters for every budget, ranging from 4 and 5-star hotels to a variety of motels, B & Bs and some well-run caravan parks with on-site cabins. There are also many luxury holiday homes available for short-term rental, some right on the beach near the regatta site at Soldiers Point – a few minutes on Google will give you the picture.

The nearest accommodation to the boat park is the 3½-star All Seasons Salamander Shores hotel which is located only 100 metres from the sailing club.

For the regatta they’re offering a special rate of AUD$119 per room, twin share, which includes a full hot buffet breakfast every morning. This rate is based on a minimum 3-night stay. You can find them at www.salamandershores.com Ask for the Laser Masters special deal.

The regatta runs from Friday February 11 – Monday February 14, 2011. Ten races are scheduled altogether – two on the Friday, 3 each on Saturday and Sunday with the final two on Monday.

Naturally the course length will be arranged so Masters sailors are not too knackered after the days when three races are scheduled.

Tony Denham, who was PRO for the Laser Worlds and World Masters at Terrigal in 2008, has agreed to run the regatta. He’ll be using the normal trapezoid courses, and the course area is only about a 10-minute sail from the beach.

There’s lots to do in the area generally, and accompanying spouses and partners will have plenty to entertain themselves with while competitors are out sailing. There is a welcome cocktail party on the Friday night and a Masters Dinner on the Sunday night, both included in the regatta entry fee.

The area is characterised by pretty bays, white sandy beaches and lush bushland. With gamefishing, surfing, beach and rock fishing, sailing, water cruises, boat charters, bushwalking, horseriding, waterskiing, swimming and parasailing Port Stephens is a bluewater paradise. There are a number of excellent golf courses and the Hunter Valley winegrowing region is only about an hour’s drive inland.


February is generally a great time to be on the east coast of Australia a bit north of Sydney. The prevailing wind is a mild NE sea breeze with occasional southerly changes sweeping up the coast. Temperatures are generally in the high 20s C but it can be quite humid.

Around 180 – 200 boats are expected from all parts of Australia and New Zealand plus a number of regular international competitors from further afield have already indicated their interest. Laser cubes will be awarded along normal ILCA guidelines and Great Grand Masters have the choice of either Standard or Radial rig.

Charter boats are available from the Australian factory and one local Laser dealer but availability is limited so early booking is essential. Contact details for charter boats are in the NoR.

The Notice of Race, entry form and more information about accommodation and charter boats is available on the event mini-site. Just go to www.laser.asn.au and click on the Laser Masters Nationals logo on the right-hand side of the home page.

February is a great time to holiday in Australia and international airfares are at all-time lows.

Sailing conditions should be ideal and competition at the regatta should be top-class, with at least 12 current or recent World champions sailing in the various fleets.

Plan to be in Port Stephens, 11-14th February 2011.