5:51 AM Thu 1 Apr 2010 GMT
The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club hosts the Cat 4 Pittwater to Newcastle Race on Saturday 10 April, the final race of the clubs premier Blue Water Offshore Series and also an ideal feeder race for the Sail Port Stephens regatta commencing the following week. It is open to any qualifying boat from YA affiliated clubs.
The RPAYC Blue Water Offshore Series champion is still very much open with a cramped leader board heading into the final race. Only three points separates seven boats, all in contention for the Club's Alyth Trophy.
Currently leading the point score is Shaw and Carl Russett's ' Windy Passage' on five points with Ray Hudson's 'Next Moment' one point behind and the syndicated Secret Men's Business another point back in third. Robert Alder's J35 'Jayhawk', the Rutherford /Ryan 'First Light', Ron Hayden's 'Cloud Nine' and the Payne's 'Sydney 38 'Risk' all equal fourth on eight points.
The Blue Water Series comprises four races from Broken Bay to Bird Island, Botany Bay, Coffs Harbour and Newcastle.
The receiving club, Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (NCYC) will host the presentation after racing. Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club will then conduct a feeder day race to Port Stephens also Cat 4 the following day, Sunday 11 April with another presentation after racing. NCYC is offering free berthing overnight between the RPAYC race and NCYC race.
NCYC is one of the best kept secrets on the east coast with excellent berthing, great club house and restaurant facilities and based on past experiences, the rum runners meeting you on the dock with a shot on your arrival on the Pittwater to Newcastle race. The quick dash up the coast across Stockton bight gets you into Port Stephens in time for a quiet little drink at the Office (a nice little establishment that is not really called the Office but helps in conversations outside the sailing fraternity) on the boardwalk at D'albora Marina before race presentation in front of the Office.
These two feeder races are ideal preparation for Sail Port Stephens, a great regatta offering a variety of regatta formats and styles of racing - divisions in IRC racing, PHS racing, PHS cruising as well as sports boats.
Sail Port Stephens offers two great regatta events:
Commodores Cup - Monday 12 to Wednesday 14 April - a very relaxed racing regatta racing around the inside of wonderful Port Stephens. Generally starts are a leisurely mid day start so that racing is concluded mid afternoon which allows racers a not only a sleep in but the opportunity of a little R&R before the vast array of night social events.
Port Stephens Trophy - IRC and PHS racing at grand prix level as well at cruising levels. This racing still caters for all levels of participants and has great social aspects at the Office and other local venues superbly supported by the Yachtie bus.
The accommodation available in Port Stephens covers all tastes from five-star to 70's vintage apartments within close walking distance of the marina. The social scene is outstanding with a Yachtie bus to and from all events ($20 for the week), subsidised berthing at the marinas in Port Stephens.
There is a lay day with plenty of activities at hand including the LONG Lunch @ Peppers, a guided bus trip to the Hunter or in some cases a trip to the local fish Co-op followed by a long boat lunch on the veranda
Come along and join in the on-water road trip to Sail Port Stephens.
To download the Pittwater to Newcastle Race and entry form go to
www.rpayc.com.au/nor-sis-2.html
To enter the Newcastle to Port Stephens feeder race go to
www.ncyc.net.au/
To enter the Sail Port Stephens regatta go to
www.sailportstephens.com.au/
by By Damian Devine and Rob Curtis
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