9:21 PM Sat 25 Apr 2009 GMT
A beautiful Beneteau 523 called Antipodes got themselves a secret weapon today with Port Stephens Council General Manager Peter Gesling stepping on board to race with them in day two of the Port Stephens Trophy at Sail Port Stephens.
Peter is a qualified pilot, so he knows a bit about meteorology and navigation and the Chief Antipodean Greg Newton made good use of his knowledge.
The 20 tonne cruiser racer provides a comfortable day out on the water with five showers, three plasmas, one queen and three double bed bunks, as well as a microwave, five burner stove and well stocked fridge.
Greg proudly states that his boat is the fattest and heaviest in the fleet, but admits that she can be quite a handful with a lot of sail area, and today's strong winds at the start of racing certainly put the well drilled (that's well drilled on and off the water..) crew to the test.
'Basically she's a cruising boat that we try to crank up and make go fast...and we have a lot of fun doing it - it was great to have Pete on board today with his local knowledge of the area - we'll have him back in flash next year !!' he said.
The close knit crew, made up of a bunch of people that have been sailing together for close to 15 years, were a little dusty at d'Albora Marina before leaving the dock around lunchtime - the result of a highly entertaining crew dinner at local award winning restaurant Zest.
With two thirds of the crew over 55, Greg happily describes his collection of blue Hawaiian shirted mates as a 'bunch of old blokes who have a lot of fun together ' - and as enthusiastic consumers of Tooheys New White Stag beer and Wild Oats Wine all week, there is plenty of photos that aptly capture the laughs and good times they all create as a team.
On a course that took in some very scenic reaches of the Bay behind Corlette Headland around Middle Island - it was a day of extremes, starting in a challenging blustery 25 knot westerly and finishing in less than 5 knots, with the leaders ghosting over the finish line in front d'Albora Marina to the applause of a very appreciative large crowd of families and kids standing on the break wall waiting for the boats to come in.
The complete lack of breeze meant that only the two Melges 32's in Division one of the Port Stephens Trophy, crossed the finish line before the four hour finishing time limit kicked in.
The remainder of that fleet and the 16 boats in Division two suffered badly with a case 'so close, but yet so far away', one yacht coming within ten metres of the finishing line before falling victim the incoming tide and not a puff of breeze get them over the line in time.
The still conditions meant the race was abandoned as the sun set on Anzac Day in Port Stephens.
For daily updates and full results go to www.sailportstephens.com.au
Since its inception, Sail Port Stephens has had invaluable resource support from Business Port Stephens, an initiative of Port Stephens Council, and the inaugural group of Foundation Partners in Nelson Bay Diggers, All Seasons Salamander Shores, Peppers Anchorage and Shoal Bay Resort and Spa have, even in tough economic times, all continued to believe in the long term vision for the regatta and what it brings to the region.
International sailing clothing brand, SLAM, continue their support as the Official Clothing supplier, and d'Albora Marina is a great partner with their on-site support and special deals for regatta participants.
by Jody O'Brien
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Davis, TAS
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