Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Sail Port Stephens 2025 Passage Series - Day 4

by Sail Port Stephens Media 4 Apr 04:55 PDT 31 March - 5 April 2025
Close finish for minor placings - Sail Port Stephens 2025 Passage Series, Day 4 © Promocean Media
Sail Port Stephens Passage Series Scuffy 1st Div 4 - Sail Port Stephens 2025 Passage Series ©Promocean Media
Sail Port Stephens Passage Series Seeking Alpha 1st Div 1 - Sail Port Stephens 2025 Passage Series ©Promocean Media
previous next
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19

With the switch flicked to signature Sail Port Stephens conditions, sunshine and a light south-westerly, the stage was set for a banner edition of the 2025 Passage Series on Thursday.

Appropriately, the course took the big fleet out of Port Stephens then on scenic laps around Cabbage Tree, Little and Boondelbah islands before returning between the two imposing headlands of Yacaaba and Tomaree.

Peter Geddes' sports boat flyer Road Runner tore up the sparkling blue tarmac, leading the chasing Division 1 pack with their orange kite on the 16.5 nautical mile course, taking the gun in 3 hours, 13 minutes and 4 seconds, nearly three minutes ahead of their closest rival, Vento, Campbell Letchford's Farr 400.

Behind them, no fewer than seven boats finished in a 90-second logjam, with Jason Jordan's Tow Truck, a Melges 32, emerging the eventual winner on PHS. Jordan admitted he enjoys the tactical challenges the course presented.

"I love the tides, the breeze, plus it's a great venue to go sailing," he said. "This year we have gone very ordinary, the big boats towelled us up in the inshore (days), but we picked a line and stuck with it today," Jordan added, clearly chuffed with the result.

The Race Committee shortened the trip for Divisions 2, 3, 4 and Non-Spinnaker as the fitful south-easterly shut down. While Allsail Leeward took out the Non-Spinnaker division, in Division 2 an Enigma 34 Watch Me secured PHS honours from Justin Mitchell's Adams Cruising 10 Rant & Rave, with Bullwinkle in third, just over a minute behind on corrected time.

For Michael Collins, Watch Me's owner, it was a highly satisfying re-introduction to racing after a 20-year hiatus.

"Michael Spies (Rolex Sydney Hobart veteran) is my step-brother, he found the boat and we'd only sailed it once," Collins revealed. "He put us in a great position on the start line, close to the rocks. Everybody got stuck up at the pin and we just got clear air, and the boat has proven to be a good light weather performer," he enthused.

Division 3 was a nail-biter with Pisco 2, a Sydney 32 from the Gosford Sailing Club, crossing the line 1 minute 25 seconds in front of Blacksheep. But on corrected time the margin shrank to just 9 seconds.

Pisco 2's skipper John Sprague and his crew were stoked with the result: "The boat likes light airs, we didn't have a great start to the week," he confided. "Everyone is pretty happy with today and we're having a few beers. I think we nailed it on the first downwind leg to the Heads, we were lucky to carry the spinnaker to Cabbage Tree Island," he recounted.

"A lot of people got caught behind the Island, we stood out a bit. I've done this race quite a few times and I knew that was the right place to be," Sprague explained.

A 10th today by Ataraxia, Scott Knights' Jeanneau 3200 from the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, sees them holding down top spot in the Overall Standings in Division 3 with one race left to sail.

Division 4 looks set to come down to the wire tomorrow, with two other boats from the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, Scuffy and Summer Salt, on equal points in first place. Scuffy, a Beneteau Oceanis 37, notched a bullet in today's race, but owner Richard Fleck disclosed the team still managed their traditional downwind catering.

"We have prawns and champagne downwind and upwind it's a bit tougher - nutbars and things," he recounted. "The highlight is the sail round the islands, it's just so beautiful out there," Fleck observed.

It's a sentiment every sailor taking part in this highly popular regatta can appreciate. More Port Stephens sunshine and an uptick in wind pressure tomorrow should set the parameters for a spectacular finale to this year's Commodores Cup Passage Series.

Sail Port Stephens is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism agency Destination NSW, Port Stephens Council, Pantaenius Australia and subsidiary sponsors

Related Articles

Ted Gersen joins Palm Beach Motor Yachts
Expanding Newport, Rhode Island presence with Industry Sales Veteran Continuing its expansion and focus on customer experience, Palm Beach Motor Yachts is excited to announce that yacht sales professional Ted Gersen has joined the company's Newport, Rhode Island team. Posted on 29 Jul
Antares 12 Coupe: a cruiser for all seasons
Asserting its position as a versatile family cruiser Faithful to the Antares line, the Antares 12 Coupe asserts its position as a versatile family cruiser, designed to accompany you on long passages, across all latitudes. Posted on 29 Jul
Airship | Funter Bay to Flynn Cove
Lots of fishing boats out today, as well as a few Dall's porpoises who surfed our bow for a bit We leisured late this morning in Funter Bay and didn't leave until after 11am. Another gorgeous, sunny day! We watched the F1 race and then pulled our anchor and headed out into the mostly glassy Icy Strait toward Flynn Cove. Posted on 29 Jul
Airship | Juneau to Funter Bay
We'll be buddy boating a bit over the next week or more with Dave on Turnagain We'll be buddy boating a bit over the next week or more with Dave on Turnagain, now joined by his brother Kyle. Posted on 28 Jul
Debut of the Picnic Boat 39
A new icon joins the fleet We invented the Picnic Boat. And we've never stopped perfecting it. The new Hinckley Picnic Boat 39 is a masterpiece of timeless design and modern ingenuity. Posted on 27 Jul
Prestige F4.3 - a new model for Cannes
A unique entry into the world of high-end yachting Experience the elegance and refinement of the new generation of the F-Line aboard the PRESTIGE F4.3. The quality of materials, fit and finish, interior and exterior design, functionality. Posted on 25 Jul
Four Winns debuts TH33 and TH38 power catamarans
Engineered to transform boating experiences into refined escapes Engineered to transform boating experiences into refined escapes, the new Four Winns TH33 and TH38 set a new standard for power catamarans of its size as the latest addition to its TH (Twin Hull) Series, launched in 2023. Posted on 24 Jul
Helping boaters steer clear of common mistakes
Veteran Sea Tow® captains share their tips Boating season is already in full throttle, and Sea Tow®, recognized throughout the marine industry as Your Road Service at Sea®, is proud to offer boating tips to avoid some of the most common mistakes seen on the water. Posted on 24 Jul
Airship | Ford's Terror to Wood Spit
We slept in again this morning at Ford's Terror We slept in again this morning at Ford's Terror, and then Taylor made a super yum breakfast taco bar...scrambled eggs, hash browns, Jerry's double-smoked bacon, tomatillo cream sauce, etc.... Posted on 24 Jul
Harris Boats unveils new Sunliner & Sunliner Sport
A bold evolution in Pontoon design Harris Boats, a leader in luxury pontoon craftsmanship and a Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) brand, has announced the launch of the completely redesigned Sunliner and the debut of the dynamic Sunliner Sport. Posted on 23 Jul
Palm Beach Motor YachtsMaritimo S Series