2016 Sail Port Stephens - Water spout captured by yachts crew

by Jacqueline Levett on 19 Apr 2016 2016 Sail Port Stephens - Offshore sailing can involve close encounters with marine life and unpredictable weather, and the crew of TSA Management captured one of the moments on their return from the Port Stephens Regatta.

This photo was taken during the stormy conditions just east of Newcastle on Monday 18 April 2016, on TSA Management's return sail to Sydney. You can clearly see a water spout is chasing the yacht in the horizon.

The Sydney 38 yacht, a regular in Rolex Sydney to Hobarts, had headed out to sea to stay out of the horrible conditions, with dark clouds and a lot of rain obscuring the land.

TSA Management crew, Brad Payten who took the photo said, “It chased us for about half a minute; which is when I took the photo.”

“The power and force of the water spout can’t be clearly seen, but at the foot of the spout you can just make out the spume, which was about as high as the boats mast.”