Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

Sail Port Stephens Passage Series Day 2

by Mark Rothfield 25 Apr 2023 05:44 PDT 24-29 April 2023
Sail Port Stephens - Mood lighting for Div 1 Race 2 © Promocean Media

Sailors were prominent among the big crowd that turned out for the traditional ANZAC Day dawn service at Nelson Bay.

More than 500 people bowed their heads in respect for the ANZAC tradition and Australians who've served and died, as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the masts of the big fleet in town for Sail Port Stephens and tied-up in the adjacent marina.

The mood lightened with the breeze and several crews took advantage of the one-hour racing delay to cool off in the Bay's inviting blue-green water.

With the forecast easterly wind beginning to filter into the huge expanse of Port Stephens, Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson made the wise call to switch courses to run eastwards back to the entrance in Shoal Bay, followed by a combination of tight reaching legs and an upwind beat, before a spinnaker finish off the Nelson Bay breakwall.

Grant Pocklington's Sydney 39 Hussy, from the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Pittwater, sailed consistently and found the best lines in the tide to notch up their first win of the regatta on PHS in Division 1. Indi, a Farr 40 from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, was only 43 seconds behind on corrected time, with Condor, a Kerr 40 from Pittwater, taking third place.

In Division 2 there was a reshuffle of the previous day's podium with Joel Skelton's Nocleks, a Farr 30, upgrading from third to first, while Justin Mitchell's Adams 10 Rant & Rave added a second to yesterday's win. Young at Heart a Young 88, found the conditions to its liking, securing third just over a minute astern of Rant & Rave.

Mo Goodship's Animal Farm, a Foundation 36, went one better than day before, winning Division 3 from two local boats - Dennis Hume's Wubaray and Shere Khan, a well-known Flying Tiger owned by Ross Kelly.

Division 4 saw Toronto-based Barney Cools hold off Pinta Bay, and Majella which were separated by just 34 seconds.

In the Non-Spinnaker Division Elara Steven Mullie's Beneteau Oceanis 321 from the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, recorded a second bullet, giving them a handy lead in the overall point score.

Crews aboard the 108 yachts competing in the six-day Passage Series comprising the Pantaenius Commodores Cup and Port Stephens Trophy are looking forward to predicted stronger winds from the east north east tomorrow, ahead of a lay day on Thursday.

For more information email info@sailportstephens.com.au

Related Articles

Entry open for trio of Brisbane Finn events
For three weeks in February 2026 the Finn world will descend on the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Entry has opened for the main Finn events in 2026. For three weeks in February 2026 the Finn world will descend on the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, in Brisbane, Australia, for three back-to-back major regattas. Posted today at 8:02 am
XR 41 ready for racing debut at MaiOR
All eyes on Kiel-Schilksee as the offshore racing season starts in northern Europe Every spring, the sailing world turns its eyes to Kiel-Schilksee, where the Mai Offshore Regatta (MaiOR) launches the offshore racing season in northern Europe. Posted today at 7:20 am
60th Anniversary Congressional Day 1
Strong start for defending champion USA's Chris Poole, defending champion of the Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup leads the first day of the 60th Anniversary event with six straight wins in the opening round-robin stage. Posted today at 5:18 am
McIntyre Mini Globe Race fleet battles Pacific
In historic 4,300-mile test of endurance Solo Sailors Face Doldrums, Equipment Failures and Avian Invaders in Unprecedented Small Boat Challenge - week five of leg 2 Posted on 30 Apr
Don't Risk Your Keys on the Water!
Keep them safe and dry in a Vaikobi Car Key Lock Box Don't risk taking your keys on the water... keep them safe and dry in a Vaikobi Car Key Lock Box. Posted on 30 Apr
21st Sandberg PalmaVela kicks off tomorrow
With the spectacle of the Maxis in Palma Over one hundred teams representing 19 nationalities will gather in the Bay of Palma for the first major multi-class event of the season: the 21st Sandberg PalmaVela. The impressive Maxis will be the first to take the stage. Posted on 30 Apr
52 SUPER SERIES Saint-Tropez Cup Day 1
Light winds prove insufficient to start racing Although the 11 boat fleet went afloat until mid-afternoon, crews filled with hope and anticipation, the wind refused to build enough for racing to take place on the first day of the new 52 SUPER SERIES season at the 52 SUPER SERIES Saint-Tropez Cup. Posted on 30 Apr
Transat Paprec Day 11
The Battle of the Leaders Now past the halfway point and sailing through the heart of the Atlantic, the competitors in the Transat Paprec are still locked in an intense battle. A windless zone expected later this week is drawing everyone's attention and forcing tough decisions. Posted on 30 Apr
International 5o5 Euro Cup Leg 1 at Saint Raphael
Sailors from seven countries descended on the South of France 505's from seven countries descended on St Raphael in the South of France for event 1 of the 505 2025 Euro Cup circuit. Many boats arrived early to knock off the winter rust and enjoy the warmer weather and good food the area has to offer. Posted on 30 Apr
Pip Hare joins Canada Ocean Racing
Sailing alongside Canadian skipper Scott Shawyer for The Ocean Race Europe Canada Ocean Racing is excited to announce that British offshore sailor Pip Hare will join their Be Water Positive campaign for the 2025 edition of The Ocean Race Europe. Posted on 30 Apr
Switch One DesignDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_SY BOTTOMLloyd Stevenson - AC ETNZ 1456x180px BOTTOM