Pantaenius Commodore's Cup at Sail Port Stephens - Day 1
by Lisa Ratcliff/SPS media 14 Apr 2014 10:47 BST
11-16 April 2014
Stage two of Sail Port Stephens, the Pantaenius Commodore's Cup, is up and running for around 400 sailors and those coming off the back of a hectic weekend of more serious competition are relaxing into the easy-going pace.
Tom Woods' Farr 36Od Toy Story is in the handicapper's sights after winning race one of the Commodore's Cup for division 1 boats.
Woods did have royalty on board today, North Sails' Michael Coxon who was checking the rig set up and on mainsail trim. "He reckons we have it pretty sorted, the results are showing we have our speed right" said the pleased skipper. Also on board was former skiff legend John Anderson and yet more of Woods' handy pool of dinghy and skiff gurus from Lake Macquarie.
Toy Story won division 1 of the three-day Performance Racing series, which wrapped up yesterday. Today the canting-keel all-rounder, which has been 'pimped' by Woods, made the most of the varied conditions – gusts up to 18 knots from the S-SE down to a zephyr at times.
"This boat likes the light stuff and upwind we are quicker than the wind speed," Woods added.
Second in division 1 was the Eastsail Beneteau F40 Breakthrough with one instructor and nine students aboard. "It's taken a few days but we got our act together today and didn't make mistakes, plus we got lucky on a few shifts," mastman Tim Griffin said.
Breakthrough is a truly international entry with its team of four Poms, one Kiwi and a few token Aussies. The Poms feel right at home in the rainy conditions that continue to dampen the fleet at Sail Port Stephens. Describing the wind's upper range today helmsman Mike Law joked it was breezy enough to blow the hair off his head.
Division 2 honours in the 15 nautical mile inshore race belonged to Len Payne's Lidgard 10.6 Kerinda.
Mick Paull's Beneteau 473 called Yes Dear from Lake Macquarie was a non-finisher in division 2, with not quite enough puff to push the 15.5 ton boat around the course. Until they retired a proper coffee machine and oven to toast the hot cross buns kept the crew warm and spirits bright. The boat is full of cruising gear and results are inconsequential for this family program. It's all about having fun.
Baby Eva at 12 months is the youngest on board and with mum, dad and two sets of grandparents there are plenty of arms to go to. Given wet weather gear isn't made in her size Eva was kept under cover today, other than for her photo shoot, and sensibly managed a nap down below.
Adam Brown representing the series sponsor Pantaenius filled the tactician's role on Matt Fensom's modified Farr 40 Long Time Dead. "It was a pleasant day despite the rain with a good turn-out of boats, and it was great to see the cruisers out there mixing it up with the racers," Brown said. "Pantaenius is a new face in the marine industry and everyone at Sail Port Stephens has made us feel very welcome."
They don't call sailing a water sport for nothing. Tomorrow's forecast is for southerly winds 15-20 knots and scattered showers along the coast.
sailportstephens.com.au