Sail Port Stephens - all in a name - a Tale with a Twist

by Lisa Ratcliff on 4 Apr 2011 Sail Port Stephens 2011 - The Performance Racing and Performance Cruising divisions will compete for the Port Stephens Trophy at this year’s Sail Port Stephens regatta, which has cracked the 100 boat mark and is on track for a bumper fleet.

The Mainstay (Bradley Sewell, South Lake Macquarie Amateur Sailing Club) of Sail Port Stephens is the celebration, the Joie De Vie (Peter Byford, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club) of owning a boat.

And there’s no better way to celebrate than by gathering at the water’s edge at the stunning family friendly destination of Port Stephens to enjoy the three-race Performance Cruising series from April 15-17, hopefully with a Tailwind (Shaw Russett, RPAYC) on the racetrack followed by some Champagne on Ice (Alistair Bailey, Port Stephens Yacht Club) ashore. Or, for the more affluent, the fifth Bear Necessity (Andrew and Pauline Dally, Middle Harbour Yacht Club) of life – a sparkling Moet (Keith Masters, Royal Motor Yacht Club), perhaps with some Amante (Dennis Cooper, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia) to follow if he/She’s the One (Michael Kirby, PSYC).

Some of the 100 plus competing crews will invite their loved ones for some school holiday fun by the seaside while others will attempt to test their skills as a Negotiator (Wayne Taylor, Wollongong Yacht Club/Greenwich Flying Squadron) in order to obtain a leave pass for a week’s respite to take advantage of Port Stephens’ watery playground with No Regrets (Ian Billington, Lake Macquarie Yacht Club).

Any more than a week and those left holding the fort could be Ropabull (Mike Roper, RMYC/BB) if sufficient Accountability (Murray Thompson, RMYC) and humility isn’t displayed. It’s enough to make even the most practiced Negotiator a tad Nervous (Matt Bonser, PSYC) about the likelihood of a Saga (Patrick Hurley, PSYC) resulting.

In the Performance Racing four-race series run over the same three days, April 15 - 17, Sail Port Stephens Pilgrim(s) (Paul Ley, CYCA) can expect some start line Argie Bargie (Chris Lancaster, RPAYC) as the division fights it out for Good Form Joachim Fluhrer, RPAYC) and ultimately, the series silverware.

As each afternoon draws to a close there will be usual Stampede (Corinne Feldman, CSC) to the bar for the obligatory tall tales and debrief on the day’s highlights and shortcomings over a Rhumb (Robert Humphris, LMYC) and Coke, with possibly One For the Road (Kym Butler, Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club) before crews turn in and grab some well earned z’s.

Some won’t have the sensibility to call it a night when they should, not giving an Iota (John McNamara, LMYC) and pushing on into the realm of believing ‘you are a Long Time Dead’ (Matthew Fensom, NCYC), which could Menace (Niven James, LMYC) their chances of finishing a top three placegetter, or might prove to be a handy Concealed Weapon (Barry Kelly, NCYC).

Sail Port Stephens, one of Australia’s fastest growing regattas, is shaping up as another fantastic week of on-water competition and after hours socialising in a beautiful location within easy reach of Sydney and Newcastle and ideal for families.

Entries for Sail Port Stephens have been extended until 5pm this Wednesday, April 6, 2011. Commodore Dom Grundy from the organising authority, the Corlette Point Sailing Club, expects between 130 and 140 entries across the seven days of racing.

Website http://sailportstephens.com