Audi Centre Melbourne first Victorian entry for Sail Port Stephens

11:27 PM Wed 11 Feb 2009 GMT

'On the rail on Audi Centre Melbourne - Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week 2008 Day 2' Sail-World.com /AUS &copy Click Here to view large photo

Audi Centre Melbourne has claimed the title of the first Victorian boat to enter Sail Port Stephens 2009.

There's no prize, no silverware - just a thank you from the regatta organising committee for their interest in the event - and an assurance that a warm welcome awaits them on their arrival in 'the Bay'.

Owned and skippered by Chris Dare, Audi Centre Melbourne was launched in late December 2007 and her crew is made up of a number of Melbourne sailing identities, including Yachting Australia President, Andrew Plympton.

For a number of the crew, including Chris, this regatta will be their first time to the Port Stephens region, and something they're all looking forward to.

'It's always been a spot we've all seen on the chart when heading north in races like the Audi Sydney to Southport or when we're making our way to Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, but there's not a lot of us who have actually sailed competitively there ' he said.

'We've heard great things about the regatta from quite a few of the guys who flew up from Melbourne last year to crew on various boats, as well as the NSW based guys who sailed up' he said.

'For us, the logistics of getting the boat there and then getting the crew there, will require that little extra effort, but by all accounts it's really worth it - particularly when you can make a great family holiday out of it "

"My wife is particularly interested in spending some relaxing time at the Day Spa, and the kids have checked out what's on offer at one of the Kids Clubs in the area - it's these little additional options that make the regatta very attractive for the whole family' Chris said with a smile.

Due to time constraints, Chris will have the boat sailed up to Sail Port Stephens by a delivery crew and the Audi Centre Melbourne team will fly direct from Melbourne to Newcastle Airport (which is a 40 minute transfer to the regatta centre) to join the festivities on Thursday evening, before the Yachting NSW Championship begins on Friday the 24th of April.

Yachting NSW President, Roger Hickman is expecting that the fleet will continue to build over time as the IRC Championship stirs interest up and down the east coast.

'As the state body, we are working closely with PRO Denis Thompson and the Sail Port Stephens regatta organising committee to create a 'purist' IRC event - and Port Stephens offers the perfect conditions to achieve this - ideally all racing will be offshore, and with the introduction of a crew weight rule into the sailing instructions, we are laying the foundation for a very even playing field 'he said.

Sail Port Stephens racing:

20-22 April - Commodores Cup (PHS)
23 April - Lay Day - Lunching Mischief
24-26 April - Yachting NSW IRC Championship
- Port Stephens Trophy ( PHS)

From little things, big things grow, and Sail Port Stephens would not be possible without the support of the foundation partner group of Nelson Bay Diggers, Shoal Bay Resort and Spa, Peppers Anchorage and All Seasons Salamander Shores -as well as the resource contributions of the supporting partner group in SLAM, d'Albora Marina, Yachting NSW and Business Port Stephens, an initiative of Port Stephens Council.

For more info and to enter, go to sailportstephens.com.au

by Jody O'Brien

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Audi Centre Melbourne first Victorian entry for Sail Port Stephens

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