Sportsboats to star at Sail Port Stephens

by Sail Port Stephens Media on 5 Mar 2012 Sail Port Stephens is one of Australia’s fastest growing regattas in one of Australia's prime regatta locations. The sixth annual event will run from April 16th through to 22nd.

This year the Elliott 7 sports boat class, one of the most popular high performance trailable racers, will be sailing their Australian Championships as part of Sail Port Stephens 2012.

Over the last decade the class has grown strongly in Queensland, from a firm base in NSW and the ACT. There are Elliott 7 fleets in Melbourne, Perth, Griffith and Lake Macquarie in NSW.

Elliott 7 Class President Neil Primrose explained. ‘This is a very active class and these Greg Elliott designed boats are right in the 'sweet spot' in terms of sports boat racing in Australia. Sail Port Stephens will be a key part of our Grand Prix Series around the country.

‘We were at Jervis Bay (NSW) last November, Canberra in December, the Festival of Sails at Geelong in January and we will be part of the Sydney Harbour Regatta next weekend.

‘Then on the 20th, 21st and 22nd April we will be sailing our Australian Championships at Port Stephens as part of Sail Port Stephens 2012.

‘Then the class will be at Airlie Beach Race Week in August.

'Being part of a major event such as Sail Port Stephens works very well for our sailors. There’s good race management, an interesting social program and Port Stephens provides us with great sailing conditions in sheltered waters, as well as fantastic holiday accommodation and facilities.

'It is an excellent location for us in terms of the geographic spread of the fleet in Australia; it lets Queenslanders come down and its obviously good for the New South Wales guys, but Port Stephens also the Victorian sailors to participate.

'In recent times the class has been making it much easier for sailors from Western Australia and South Australia to just jump on an aircraft and charter a boat, instead of having to trail their boat across Australia.

‘We expect Port Stephens to be the best Australian Championships yet. The class continues to build momentum and recent developments, including carbon booms and poles as well as the adoption of a new square top mainsail profile, has ensured the class maintains its status as the largest one design sports boat class.

Mike Green is a multiple Sydney Hobart winner and is the current Australian Sports Boat Champion and the Elliott 7 National and ACT Champion.

Green has previously won at Sail Port Stephens. 'I sailed at Sail Port Stephens two years ago aboard Bob Steel’s Quest when we won the IRC Racing Division and now I am looking forward to our Elliott 7 Nationals with Evergreen.’

‘Port Stephens’ sailor Matt Bonser persuaded the class to hold the NSW Elliott 7 State titles last year just off Soldiers Point. It was fantastic sailing so we are back in strength.

‘My crew has rented a house on the beach at Soldiers Point so our families will be able to watch the racing from there.’

Matt Bonser commented ‘As a local sailor I am very proud of this regatta. It’s a great event with incredible boats and is great for the Port Stephens area. We will have some wild and wet racing - great for sailors and spectators alike.'

Commodore Dom Grundy from the organising authority, the Corlette Point Sailing Club, said today ‘We expect between 170 and 190 boats overall to participate in Sail Port Stephens 2012 and we will see the Elliott class Australian Championships being sailed within the event, as part of the long term growth pattern with a whole range of classes taking advantage of the event organisation and the great location expanding the event year on year.’

Visit the website Sail Port Stephens http://www.sailportstephens.com.au for the latest news on one of the best regattas in one of the most beautiful spots in Australia.

Online entry is now available here

Notice of Race is available here