Sail Port Stephens 2025 Passage Series - Day 4
by Sail Port Stephens Media 5 Apr 2025 00:55 NZDT
31 March - 5 April 2025
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