Please select your home edition
Edition
PredictWind - Offshore App 728x90 TOP

Sail Port Stephens - Day 2

by Mark Rothfield 20 Apr 2021 04:21 PDT 19-25 April 2021
Salt Shaker - Sail Port Stephens, day 2 © Roni Bintang

The 2021 Sail Port Stephens regatta switched to island time today for Race 2 of the Commodores Cup, with the fleet heading seawards for a race course where Mother Nature lays the marks - or at least the landmarks.

Starting off Nelson Bay breakwall, the yachts donned spinnakers for a sparkling run in nor'westerly winds gusting to 18 knots. Many hugged Yacaaba Headland under the stern gaze of seabirds and dolphins, modern sails juxtaposed against the majestic, millennium-old cliffs.

They then wove around Cabbage Tree and Boondelbah Islands, which stand like sentries at the entrance to this pristine marine park.

Leading the 108-strong fleet almost from the outset was Little Nico, with owner Adrian Walters back at the helm of his Shaw 11 and Mitch White calling the shots.

"We had a fairly average start due to a radio malfunction, but luckily a downwind start suited a downwind boat," White explained. "We got through the pack, then it was a case of the rich getting richer."

The winding course and fluctuating wind strength kept the crew busy with sail changes, but it was no sweat for professional sailors Cam Ward and Josh Alexander who are enjoying a sailing holiday at Port Stephens aboard the Shaw.

Little Nico finally crossed the line four minutes ahead of Rob Dawes's Marten 49 Indigo II, albeit their advantage had been around 10 minutes mid-race. "Indigo sucked six minutes out of us on the final beat because they're a much bigger boat," White added. "Unlike yesterday, though, the weather gods went our way as the wind eased after we finished."

The result lifted Little Nico into third overall for the series, equal on 10 points with Indigo II. Andrew Pearson's Beneteau First 45 Highly Sprung leads on six points from Middle Harbour clubmates Rob Aldis and Sandy Farquharson on Khaleesi.

Division 2 saw another strong result for the Italia 11.98 Cicero, skipper and importer Mark Hellyer adding a second placing to his first from yesterday. Drummoyne Sailing Club's Arch Rival won today's race and now sits second on eight points overall, one ahead of Peter Horne's Bling from Lake Macquarie.

It was déjà vu in Divisions 3 and 4, Dale Sharp's Farr 31 Sofarr and David Rundle's Smoke and Mirrors both winning for the second consecutive day. The PHS handicappers may be watching them like seabirds before tomorrow's finale.

Dale Sharp: "It was a great day out there. We got around the Heads in good shape and managed to keep the boat going through the puffs. Through the islands I think we went from third in division into first... and it set us up for a really good race to the finish with Salt Shaker."

Just last month, Sofarr was tee-boned in a racing incident on Lake Macquarie but is now patched up and sporting a shiny new paint job. Being an ex-J24 sailor, Sharp has rigged the yacht with all the control lines leading back to the pit, where the brains trust can pull the strings while two sizable twin brothers perch on the gunwales, swinging the boat down.

"There's some breeze predicted for tomorrow, but we'll be fine if we get some upwind sailing."

Continuing the déjà vu theme, Salt Shaker and Liquid Force both grabbed the same podium places as yesterday. The Jeanneau Hells Bells is five points adrift in fourth but flying under the radar.

The Fareast 28R's came to the fore today in Division 4, many of them managing to carry their asymmetrics longer than others. Rob Reynolds, representing Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, and Chicken Lips, skippered by Mark Hillis from the NSW rural town of Wagga, were second and third respectively.

Lurking within striking distance of Smoke and Mirrors are Stephen Ellis's Agent 88, Chaos Theory and Chicken Lips.

Stay up-to-date with Sail Port Stephens news and results via the event website or Facebook page.

Daily video by Hover UAV

Related Articles

Young Sailors Invited to the 2025 Fireball Worlds
A special discounted entry fee for eligible youth participants for the event at Lake Garda Circolo Vela Arco and Fireball International are inviting young sailors from around the world to take part in the 2025 Fireball World Championship at spectacular Lake Garda, with a special discounted entry fee for eligible youth participants. Posted today at 8:02 am
Jazz Turner completes Project FEAR
Drama right to the end in her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles Jazz Turner has completed Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin 27 yacht. A flotilla of supporters met her in Seaford Bay, which grew and grew the closer they came to Brighton Marina. Posted today at 5:39 am
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D1
Sunday's storm winds cleared to deliver ideal conditions for the opening race day Sunday's storm winds cleared to deliver ideal conditions for the opening race day of the 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy, official championship stages of the World Match Racing Tour and Women's World Match Racing Tour. Posted today at 4:33 am
World Sailing announces split venues for LA28
The boards will be at Long Beach, with the dinghy events at the Port World Sailing has said it welcomes the confirmation of sailing venues for the Olympic Games LA28 the boards will be at Long Beach, with the dinghy events at the Port. Posted on 30 Jun
One thing. One big, very fast boat
One thing that opened the door, another made us enquire some more - 50 knots! Yes. It was one thing that opened the door, as it were. One thing that piqued the curiosity enough to go, ‘I'll take a look at that!' One thing that when you're trying to crack in excess of 50 knots... Posted on 30 Jun
NYYC International Women's Championship update
The first group of invited skippers have been announced Elite-level international women's keelboat competition will return to Newport, R.I., in late summer of 2026 when the New York Yacht Club hosts the inaugural International Women's Championship. Posted on 30 Jun
Luna shines bright in 2025 Morgan Cup Race
This was a truly international fleet with the majority of the teams from the UK and France The start of the Morgan Cup Race was a spectacular sight with over 100 boats beating to windward into the Western Solent for the fourth race of the Cowes Offshore Racing Series and the 11th race of the 2025 RORC Season's Points Championship. Posted on 30 Jun
Freestyle Pro Tour Paros day 1
Kicking off with a nuclear single elim The opening day of the Freestyle Pro Tour (FPT) Paros kicked off exactly as forecasted - nuclear winds from morning till late afternoon, accompanied by nonstop freestyle action. Posted on 30 Jun
New Zero Weight 2-in-1 Shorts from Henri-Lloyd
When the weather's hot, there's nothing better to keep you cool on or off the water When the weather's hot, there's nothing better than Henri-Lloyd's Zero Weight 2-in-1 shorts to keep you cool on or off the water. Posted on 30 Jun
2025 Tiedemann Regatta
Experience shines alongside the brightwork at the Nw York Yacht Club A century ago, R Class yachts were the sports cars of the yachting world, sleek and low to the ground, nimble in the corners and quick around the course, and, above all, demanding to drive. Posted on 30 Jun
V-DRY-XSelden 2020 - FOOTERArmstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - BOTTOM