Please select your home edition
Edition
C-Tech 2021 America's Cup 728x90 TOP

Revised dates and format for Sail Port Stephens 2023

by Mark Rothfield 29 Sep 2022 20:46 PDT 24-29 April, 5-7 & 19-21 May 2023
Sail Port Stephens © Sail Port Stephens Media

Sail Port Stephens (SPS) is revamping its event schedule and revising dates for racing in April and May 2023, having outgrown the previous week-long format that remained largely unchanged since its inception in 2008.

The highly popular regatta has traditionally been anchored by the low-key Commodores Cup over the first three days, followed by a lay-day then three more serious days of racing for the Port Stephens Trophy and NSW Yachting Championships.

From next year, the iconic Commodores Cup series is being extended to five days of racing under PHS handicapping, while the Port Stephens Trophy will simultaneously be contested under the ORC Club rating system. Dates for the combined Sail Port Stephens 'Passage Series' will be Monday 24 April to Saturday 29 April, 2023, with Thursday 27 April retained as a lay-day.

The prestigious NSW Yachting Championships, sailed under IRC and ORC, will become a three-day, stand-alone event held from 5-7 May 2023. The fleet will be accompanied by Act 3 of the TP52 Gold Cup, again utilising windward-leewards.

Finally, 19-21 May 2023 has been set aside exclusively for sports boats, trailer sailers, Finns, Tasars and Windsurfers, hosted by The Bay Sailing Centre at Salamander Bay under the banner of the Bannisters Port Stephens 'Bay Series'.

Regatta Director and co-founder Paul O'Rourke says overwhelming demand for marina berths and accommodation, combined with competitor feedback, had necessitated a rethink, adding that regatta management resources were also being stretched by the ever-increasing fleet size.

"While we're mindful of the needs of our competitors, and thankful for their loyalty, we've seen unparalleled, exponential growth over the past six or seven years," he said. "There literally weren't enough berths, buoys, pylons or jetties available to accommodate everyone, despite the three major marinas [d'Albora Nelson Bay, The Anchorage Marina and Soldiers Point Marina] being fully supportive.

"Many owners rebooked their berths immediately after an event finished, which meant that new competitors had to go on long waiting lists. Some yachts were also occupying berths for the entire week yet only racing in one or other series, so the new format should be more time-efficient for everyone."

With a wide variety of courses taking in the many inshore and offshore islands and bays, the opening series will particularly appeal to cruiser-racer crews who enjoy longer and more scenic passage racing. Extra divisions will be added in 2023 to reduce start-line crowding and allow more equitable boat-to-boat racing.

The contrasting preferences of IRC/ORC and TP52 entrants will be catered for by sailing predominantly offshore windward-leeward races over the three days, while the trailable series will have its own spotlight rather than being a satellite event.

The SPS race team has previously been spread quite thinly across multiple starting lines, both inshore and offshore, so the new structure will allow them to focus their attention and work more efficiently.

Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, recently named the 2022 NSW/ACT Yacht Club of the Year, is also formally partnering with, and co-hosting, the regatta in conjunction with Corlette Point Sailing Association, adding additional race resources.

"We understand that the timing change might cause some initial inconvenience for competitors who've pre-booked berthing and accommodation, however everything possible will be done to assist them with the transition," Paul O'Rourke added.

"We also welcome feedback to help further refine and embed the new format, moving forward."

Comments and enquiries can be sent to .

For more information visit event website.

Sail Port Stephens 2023 Dates:

24-29 April

Sail Port Stephens Passage Series
Commodores Cup (PHS) and Port Stephens Trophy (ORC Club)

5-7 May

NSW Yachting Championships
TP52 Gold Cup Act 3

19-21 May

Bannisters Bay Series
Sports Boats, Trailer Sailers, Off-the-Beach

Related Articles

Admirals Cup: Day 5 - Rolex Fastnet gets underway
The final triple scoring race in the 2025 Admirals' Cup got underway on time The final triple scoring race in the 2025 Admirals' Cup got underway on time starting in front of The Castle in Cowes. The 30 boat fleet representing 15 teams and 12 countries encountered conditions much as forecast - 12-15kt westerly and outgoing tide. Posted on 26 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race gets underway with record fleet
Spectators in their thousands swarmed Cowes Green and the shores of the western Solent Spectators in their thousands swarmed Cowes Green and the shores of the western Solent to witness the starts of the 51st Rolex Fastnet Race from 1120 until 1320 BST today. Posted on 26 Jul
2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior Worlds, day 2
Strong performances, tight racing, and growing excitement The 2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships finally got under way on the water today in Brest with an intense second day of racing for the 379 young windsurfers representing 38 nations. Posted on 26 Jul
100th edition Rolex Fastnet Race begins
Ahead lie 696 nautical miles of technically challenging, resilience testing waters. The 100th anniversary edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race underlined its position as the world's largest offshore race as 444 yachts set off from Cowes, England. Posted on 26 Jul
Admiral's Cup: Explosive Rolex Fastnet Race start
The fleet launched into action with a full-on start right in front of the Royal Yacht Squadron line The Red Arrows heralded the return of the Admiral's Cup for the centenary edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race. Posted on 26 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race Start - Tom Hicks Photo Gallery
Stuunning shots from as 444 yachts start the centenary edition of the race! Tom Hicks is out on the Solent for all the major events and has captured some stunning moments from today's start of the Centenary Rolex Fastnet Race. Take a look at the shots below and far more in the gallery above! Posted on 26 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race Start - view from Hurst Castle
A video montage as the fleet went out of the Solent I went out to Hurst Castle with his camera and drone to capture the action as the boats, ranging from the mighty Ultim trimarans, through to the IMOCAs and grand prix yachts competing in the 2025 Admiral's Cup went through the narrrows out of the Solent. Posted on 26 Jul
Snipe Women's World Championship day 3
A strong thermal build into the afternoon again at Enoshima, Japan Weatherwise, day three was pretty much a carbon copy of day two with a strong thermal that built into the afternoon. Racing got under way a half hour earlier, again to start before the breeze built over the regatta limit. Posted on 26 Jul
Ugotta Regatta Day 1
The GL52 fleet sailed their first three races Nine boats strong, the GL52 fleet sailed their first three races of the 2025 Ugotta Regatta on Friday. Posted on 26 Jul
WASZP Games 2025 overall
Perfect conditions for the final day showdown The final day of the WASZP Games 2025 delivered everything you could want in a championship showdown—tight racing, pressure starts, tactical battles, and decisive performances. With the Gold Fleet behind on their race schedule, the priority was clear. Posted on 26 Jul
Maritimo M50Barton Marine Pipe GlandsC-Tech 2020 Tubes 728x90 BOTTOM