Spectators were treated to a RAAF fly-over on day three of Sail Port Stephens.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Three Hawk 127 lead-in fighter aircraft flew over the Port Stephens Sailing and Aquatic Club at Soldiers Point about 12.30pm on Wednesday.
“The fly-over is in support of the 10th Sail Port Stephens event,” a defence media statement said.
It has been a cracking start to the 10th anniversary Sail Port Stephens, organisers have said.
On Monday the 60-plus fleet taking part in the Pantaenius Commodore’s Cup started cleanly off the Nelson Bay breakwater and finished under sunny skies, and in quick time.
Division one honours went to Derek Sheppard’s Beneteau 45 Black Sheep.
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia entry opted for the more relaxed cruising option for their 10th consecutive regatta attendance.
“It was fabulous to win the first race of our 10th Sail Port Stephens,” Sheppard said.
“This time we’ve got half a dozen women sailing with us and a couple of new sailors, plus [well-known Sydney sailor] Tony Kirby on jib trim and for his tactical knowledge of the bay.
“We’ve decided to sail cruising for the whole series, with the emphasis on fun rather than serious competition.
“The Bay put on magnificent sailing conditions and the rain held off, we had our raincoats ready this morning.
“For us the making leg was the work from the island back up to Salamander Shores, then we had the Banshee as our datum boat on the way home.”
Greg Wilkens and Jan Bartel did well to not only keep up with the bigger boats in division two but to beat them on handicap with their Archambault 32 from Manly, Sydney.
Bartel is helming for the Commodore’s Cup.
Her husband, Wilkens, will take over for the second-half of the performance series which starts on Friday.
“It was spectacular being on a start line with 37 boats, the biggest fleet I’ve started with and we were third off the line,” Bartel said.
“We rode the wash of a lot of the bigger div two boats and wound up hanging on to the division one boats that usually get away from us.
“Our result is a credit to the whole crew, and it was wonderful to see a few other women out there helming.”
The Commodore’s Cup is a three-day passage race series and the traditional opener to Sail Port Stephens, which has attracted a record fleet for its milestone year.
Bartel and Wilkins romped in another division two win in the Commodores Cup on Tuesday.
The division one winner was Dennis Cooper’s Sydney 36r, Amante.
“This is my seventh Sail Port Stephens in a row and we are sailing with a mixed bunch of my regular twilight crew and long-time sailing friends from 40 years ago,” Cooper said.
“Our bowman is nearly 80 years-old and at least half the crew would be over 70.
“We come to have fun and have a great social week.”
If wind and swell conditions are favourable on Wednesday, the Commodore’s Cup fleet will head offshore on Wednesday around an islands course for the concluding third race of the series.
