Marina berths and moorings across the Bay have been bustling with energy and activity as the regatta, running April 19 to 25, boasts its largest number of individual entries across the various sailing categories.

"This time last year we were stuck at home watching Facebook videos of past regattas, reliving the good times, so it's fantastic to see so many boats and crews able to come back to Port Stephens," event director Jennie Hughes said.

"Obviously there's a real pent-up demand to enjoy a great week of racing and socialising in this beautiful part of the world. In fact, the Bay is at capacity and, unfortunately, a number of yachts just couldn't get a berth or mooring.

"For those who could, we're aiming to have 200 per cent as much fun, on and off the water, to make up for lost time, albeit there are measures in place to alleviate crowding and minimise the impact on the local community."

The 105 yachts that lined up for day one of the 2021 Bannisters Port Stephens Commodores Cup on Monday cut an impressive sight out on the Bay.

It came after 41 yachts sailed into Port Stephens from Newcastle on Sunday as part of the feeder race across the Stockton Bight. Little Nico, a Shaw 11, made the 22 nautical mile trip the fastest - in a time of 2 hours and 22 minutes.

Little Nico returned to the water on Monday for the start of the Commodores Cup and secured line honours in division one. PHS winner XXX, a modified Mount Gay 30 from Lake Macquarie Yacht Club, finished day one of the three-day race first followed by Beneteau First 45 Highly Sprung.

In division two, it was the hot Italia 11.98 cruiser-racer Cicero, skippered by Mark Hellyer, who claimed first place on PHS.

"We were a long way ahead before the breeze turned and everyone caught us, but that happens in these races," Hellyer said. "Once we got the breeze, we kicked again. There was definitely some rust because this is pretty well the only regatta we've been able to do since I got the boat a year ago. I personally enjoy light weather sailing because it takes concentration, and we kept out of trouble at the marks - better than some other people apparently."

In division three, Sydney 36C Salt Shaker (Peter Franki) held off Liquid Force (Jason Jordan) and the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3200 Hells Bells (Lincoln Dews).

David Rundle's Smoke and Mirrors, an Enigma 34, won division four from Elusive Spirit and the Young 88 Agent 88. Originally from Lake Macquarie Yacht Club but now sailing with the Port Stephens Yacht Squadron, Smoke and Mirrors had a mixture of crew from both clubs aboard.

"I think it's fair to say we had a good handicap today," Rundle said. "It was one of those weird, fluky days where there were boats behind us that shouldn't have been, and boats in front that also shouldn't have beaten us across the line.

"There are so many boats here that the challenge is to get clear air and get going. We mostly stayed out of trouble. When we ran down to Bannisters the rounding was more about security than anything else - most people were pretty courteous."

Non-spinnaker honours went to Noel Borel's Kulani, a vintage East Coast 31.

Racing picks up again on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Mindful of being a COVID-Safe event, social aspects of SPS21 will be monitored. The Wild Oats welcome party was held on Monday night and a 'vintage nautical' ball for the Commodores Cup will be staged at Bannisters' Cheeky Dog.

Thursday's lay day allows crews to experience the many tourism attractions, along with a Layday Playday charity lunch organised by the Making Waves Foundation. Racing then swings into top gear from Friday to Sunday, under the umbrella of the Port Stephens Trophy series.

Weekend action

Sail Port Stephens' NSW IRC Championship has 27 entries, ranging from David Griffith's Judel-Vrolijk 62 Whisper down to the Farr 31 Sofarr of Dale Sharp, defending its division three title from 2019.

Checkmate of Hollywood, Ray Roberts' 1978-vintage Peterson 50 IOR, will lend an air of timber tradition to proceedings, with its glistening varnished topsides conspicuous alongside a trio of carbon fibre TP52s - Celestial, Ichi Ban and Smuggler.

In the Flagstaff Marine-sponsored Performance Racing Series, featuring 29 starters, will be the newly arrived Beneteau Figaro 3, the world's first foiling one-design production yacht.

Penned by the VPLP office in collaboration with Beneteau, the 36-foot (10.85m) light-displacement yacht brings a slice of America's Cup technology to Port Stephens, albeit its foils are designed to increase righting moment rather than carrying the hull aloft.

Among five Fareast 28Rs in this division is Chicken Lips from NSW's Riverina region, as owner Mark Hillis and crew love the wide-open waters of Port Stephens: "If we tipped the boat over in Wagga's Lake Albert the mast would go through someone's front window," Hillis jokes.

Renowned boatbuilder John McConaghy will also feature in his 47-footer Second Time Around, a yacht he designed, built and launched in 1995, sporting hydraulic lifting keel, carbon rig, twin rudders and a luxury fit-out.

The Flagstaff Marine Performance Cruising division has 65 starters, just shy of the 2019 fleet but once again featuring a wealth of cruiser-racers.

The Australian Sports Boat Association, meanwhile, has eight entries lined up for its NSW State titles, Luke Ratcliff's Re-Heat and Malcolm Dean's Shaw 650 The Stig being pre-race favourites.

Off-the-Beach

The inaugural Sail Port Stephens Off-the-Beach regatta will run at the Bay Sailing Centre in Salamander Bay April 24-25.

Around 20 Finns from Queensland and Sydney are due to take part in the regatta, a nationals-style presence and the biggest class gathering in 12 months, according to Association president Phil Chadwick.

"If a Laser or OK dinghy is too small, the Finn feels just like home to larger sailors of 90 to 120 kilograms," Chadwick said. "They're like a classic vintage car, really comfortable to sail. The lighter hull and rig help them plane earlier and longer, and there's no weight jackets ... so they're easier on the body."

Another evergreen class, the Windsurfer, is also attracting a large number of sailors for the NSW Slalom titles and Anzac Day marathon. It's open to all Windsurfer Class boards including Windsurfer LT, Windsurfer One Design and original Windsurfers.