With Sail Port Stephens 2025 starting in just over five weeks away, change is in the air and all the signs are pointing to another record year of demand and growth for an event that has been on a continual trajectory for 18 straight years.

Last year’s regatta comprised 11 huge days of sailing, spanning three weeks and involving 215 boats. The ‘House Full’ banner is once again likely to fly over local marinas when the popular Passage Series commences on March 31, and helping to boost overall numbers are two blue-ribbon events introduced to the Performance Series calendar for April 25-27.

The ‘Super RC’ division will welcome owners and crews of yachts over 53ft (16.2m), with passage races starting and finishing off Nelson Bay breakwall and rounding the beautiful islands off Port Stephens. To be eligible, yachts require an IRC rating greater than 1.200 and an IRC DLR (displacement/length ratio) greater than 125.

Also new is the InterClub 40 Series, a teams’ event for clubs with yachts ranging from 35ft-45ft (10.7-13.7m) LOA, involving windward-leeward and passage racing under ORCc/ORCi. InterClub 40 boats will need an ORC All Purpose time correction factor (time on time) between 1.1670 – 1.2656 and a DLR between 4.0400 – 5.9800, although race organisers can accept entries outside that criteria. Clubs simply have to nominate three yachts to form a representative team.

The Performance Series also includes the prestigious NSW Yachting Championships, along with Act 3 of the TP52 Pallas Capital Gold Cup and the Rob Hampshire Cup. Boats can compete simultaneously in both the NSW Yachting Championship (IRC) and Rob Hampshire Trophy (ORC). In 2025, racing will be held primarily inshore on the Salamander Bay course instead of offshore.

From May 2-4, Part 3 of Sail Port Stephens invites off-the-beach classes, one-design keelboats and trailerable sports boats to the Bay Series. The Australian Sports Boat Association will present its NSW title while the J70 Class has class racing scheduled. Dinghy classes, including RS Aeros, Finns, OKs, 5o5s and more, will sail a two-day series from May 3-4. There’s also an Open Division for one- and two-handed classes.

In other changes, past competitors will note that the Regatta Centre and Race Office will be located in the forecourt of d’Albora Marina Nelson Bay, rather than at the Level 1 function centre as previously. Rego, briefings and daily prize-giving functions will all be held here, under marquees, to bring closer engagement with the community.

The Monday Night welcome party for the Passage Series will be held on the Bay Sailing Centre beachfront with a free ferry to get participants there and buses returning to Nelson Bay later in the evening. Also, Port Stephens Council is once again hosting the Nelson Bay Street Party on Wednesday April 3, boasting live entertainment and street food.

Sail Port Stephens is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism agency Destination NSW and Port Stephens Council. Series sponsors include Pantaenius Australia, The Anchorage Marina and Bannisters Port Stephens.

Event website: www.sailportstephens.com.au

by Mark Rothfield