Newcastle Port Stephens Race 2014 – Racing this weekend

by Mary Holley on 3 Apr 2014 Newcastle Port Stephens Race - Sunday 6th April marks the beginning of two huge weeks of racing beginning and ending in Newcastle.

The racing kicks off with the annual Auto Advantage Newcastle to Port Stephens Race. This race is a feeder to the popular Sail Port Stephens Regatta where the NSW IRC Competition will be held starting on Friday 11th and finishing Sunday 13th or Wednesday 16th of April dependent of division of choice.

The Newcastle Port Stephens fleet includes yachts from Sydney, Pittwater, Gosford, Lake Macquarie and home port of Newcastle. There should be fierce competition is expected between the three Beneteau 40.7s entered in the race. Mark Skelton’s recently purchased beach ball, Jab, from Lake Macquarie will provide stiff competition for NCYC’s Schouten Passage, skippered by Will Howard and Vaughn Stephens’ Novocaine.

NCYC Commodore, Phil Arnall, will be keen to be competing again on his Corby 43, Anger Management which sustained mast damage on its return trip from the Coffs Harbour race earlier in the year.

'We are looking forward to racing again. It has been a while,' said Arnall. Other entries include Justin Brownbill’s Sydney 36, Botany Access Cocomo and Steven Proud’s Kernan 44, Swish.

After a week’s racing in Port Stephens the yachts will return to Newcastle for the 2014 Audi IRC Australian Championships. Hosted by Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club the Australian IRC Championships has to date attracted a fleet of 34 yachts. The event will offer a week of truly competitive and exciting racing off the Newcastle coastline across three divisions.

The Auto Advantage Newcastle to Port Stephens Race commences at 10am this Sunday. The start will be in Newcastle Harbor or off Nobby’s light house dependent on wind conditions and scheduled shipping movements.

Event website: click here