Wet we got, wind not so much, as Race 1 of the Commodores Cup Passage series kicked off Sail Port Stephens for its 17th year, with the five divisions enjoying an action-packed race instead of retiring to the local cafes and pubs.
The call to sail was greeted with cheers, and the Pub-to-Pub course took the fleet on a run to Shoal Bay, then westwards on a long beat to Salamander Bay, around Middle Island off Soldiers Point and back to the finish.
Fortune favoured those who drew spinnakers, however there were round-ups aplenty as the wind averaged 15 knots but gusted to 30 as rain squalls came through. Any cobwebs were soon washed away.
The Ker 40 Mk3 Condor showed its black stern to the entire fleet, clearing out to win line-honours in 1hr39m, six minutes ahead of the well-sailed Mylius 50 Daguet. Gerry Hatton’s Mat 1220 Bushranger was third across in 1hr48m.
With the Commodores Cup judged on PHS, the Beneteau First 47.7 Popeye took first place after enjoying the working and power reaching conditions. Second was the Beneteau First 50 51st Project, a local yacht owned by Julian Bell.
In Division 2, the evergreen Farr 44 Sea Hawk used its long waterline to advantage, winning on PHS and taking the line just six seconds ahead of Organised Chaos, a Nelson Marek 1D35. Minor placings went to Andiamo, the beautiful Grand Soleil 40, and Schouten Passage.
Beneteau also took the honours in Division 3 and 4, with the Sense 50 La Troisieme Mi-Temps eclipsing the Jeanneau Sunfast 320 Ataraxia and Hanse 400 Kookaburra, and Oceanis 37 Scuffy triumphing in the Div 4 category over Ca Va (Sun Odyssey 440) and Escape (Oceanis 41.1).
Five non-spinnaker entries hit the line, with In the Mood failing to finish and three others sitting the day out. Elysium, a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349 was the overall winner from Namadgi 3 and Antipodes.
One sailor suffered broken ribs in an onboard incident but otherwise it was plain sailing.
More showers are predicted for Race 2 but a mid-strength southerly will provide good conditions on the inshore course, predominantly sailing triangles in Salamander Bay.
Sail Port Stephens is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism agency Destination NSW, Port Stephens Council, Pantaenius Australia and subsidiary sponsors.
Event website: www.sailportstephens.com.au
