Sail Port Stephens - Overall
by Lisa Ratcliff/SPS media 13 Apr 2014 21:20 BST
11-16 April 2014
The best and most consistent performers over three days in a mixed bag of conditions reached for the last available points on the final day of the Pantaenius Port Stephens Trophy to cement close divisional wins.
Performance Cruising division 1 top honours went to Mark Skelton's Beneteau 40.7 Jab from Wangi Amateur Sailing Club by a point over nearest rival, Rob Aldis' Jeanneau Odyssey 42 Joie De Vie.
Beating Aldis by a mere 14 seconds on corrected time in today's 14nm race was enough to secure the sweetest of victories, Skelton's first overall win at Sail Ports Stephens as an owner.
"We had a great time here," said Skelton. He reckons Friday's drifter until a very welcome westerly breeze picked up the tempo was the toughest day for the crew of dinghy sailors from Lake Macquarie recalling, "At one stage we were in front of everyone then we parked at Cabbage Tree Island and they all sailed past us."
Skelton's next booking is the Audi IRC Australian Championship starting Thursday on board the Beneteau 40.7 Schouten Passage.
In Performance Cruising 2 results Dennis Cooper's Sydney 36cr Amante shadowed Matt Bonser's Melges 24 Watch Me all long weekend. Bonser almost gave up the win to Amante with a below par ninth place in today's final bout, but luckily for the local Port Stephens Melges crew they'd banked enough points to sneak in front on a countback.
In Performance Racing division 1 Tom Woods' Farr 36 Od Toy Story turned into a handful when the fresh sou'westerly change hit the race course on Saturday, April 12, 2014. Luckily for Woods his is one of the best crews on the marina at Sail Port Stephens, made up of former champion skiff and dinghy sailors from Lake Macquarie who can handle the 36-footer's big power to weight ratio.
Yesterday's three windward/leewards in winds gusting close to 30 knots left Toy Story's crew exhausted. Having to retrieve a man overboard at a bottom mark rounding in the final race sapped every last ounce of energy. "It was a big day and having to pick someone up in 30 knots when all the other boats were trying to round the mark where he went over wasn't easy," said Woods.
"We had a terrific series and we enjoyed sticking it to the big boats. The calibre of racing with UBS Wild Thing and Colortile is what we came here for," Woods added.
It was the Barry and Barry show in Performance Racing division 2 top results. An extra first place for Barry Kelly's Archambault M34 Concealed Weapon over five races gave the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club crew the larger trophy by one point. Barry Jackson's Beneteau 40 from Pittwater, Alibi, had to be happy with runner-up in division.|
"We knew what we had to do today, but a lot depended on the other boats," said Kelly. "The racing at Port Stephens was fast and well managed and the weather gods looked after us, though I'd like to request a little less rain next year.
"The only reason we won was because I have a great bunch of guys on the boat," he added, paying tribute to his fine crew.
Owners opting to contest both the Port Stephens Trophy and Pantaenius Commodore's Cup cruising series will be back tomorrow for the second half of the annual regatta that began in 2008 and has steadily flourished ever since.
Sail Port Stephens is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
sailportstephens.com.au