6:11 AM Wed 18 Mar 2009 GMT
They had such a good family holiday in 2008 that the Bushranger crew from Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club at Pittwater in Sydney's north will be back again for more of the same at Sail Port Stephens 2009.
The regatta gets underway on April 20 and finishes on April 26.
For Bushranger's owner Gerry Hatton, the regatta ticks all the boxes, both on and off the water.
The Benetau 40.7 competed in both the feeder races from Pittwater to Newcastle and then from Newcastle to Port Stephens, and for Gerry and son-in-law Mike Fountain - it was a great opportunity to take the boat offshore, and something they're looking forward to repeating again in a month's time.
Once they arrived in Port Stephens, the fun really began with friends and family, from 7 year olds to 70 year olds, enjoying the cruisey laid back style of the Commodores Cup from Monday to Wednesday - something Gerry's grandsons are certainly excited about doing again this year.
In rainy conditions in one of the Commodores Cup races last year, a collection of kids belonging to all Gerry's sailing friends and family, sat on the rail looking like they were wet-weather geared up to cross Bass Strait - and loving every minute of it !
With any luck, the weather gods will be drier in their approach this year, but for these kids, being out sailing with dads and grand-dads, having the opportunity amongst calm conditions within the Bay to get their hands on ropes and really take part in sailing the boat is priceless - rain, hail or shine.
'We had such a great family holiday last year with my daughter and her family, along with other sailing friends and their families...and the word has spread over the last 12 months, so we're expecting that the number of kids will increase this year as more want to join in the fun' Gerry said.
'We took home the Commodores Cup silverware (a very user friendly engraved silver ice bucket), and we're hoping for a similar performance this year.....and we're also planning on repeating our social fun performance - it was great catching up with everyone at the get togethers at different venues each night' he said.
Whilst there was a definite sailing focus for the week, the area offered great options for the kids when the Commodores Cup sailing was over - including bike rides and time at the local beaches, so when the mums pack the bags and cars next month, the boogie boards and the push bikes will get loaded on the roof racks for the 3 hour trip north up the freeway from Sydney.
For Mike Fountain, who has been sailing for many years, Sail Port Stephens offers a chance to bring in some racing mates at the end of the week and contest the Yachting NSW IRC Championship from 24 to 26 April.
Last year, there was an international French connection with a champion bowman flown up from Melbourne to step into that adventure-land position - crew are still being finalised for 2009, but they're all sure to be a stunning line up again in their SLAM Bushranger gear.
The IRC Championship is pure windward leeward racing on offshore racetracks that are only a 20 minute motor from marinas within the Bay, and offer some of the most picturesque sailing waters on the east coast.
Sail Port Stephens racing:
20-22 April - Commodores Cup (PHS)
23 April - Lay Day - Long Lazy Lunching Mischief at Peppers
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.
Wild Oats Wines also joins as a supporting partner this year, and their wonderful range of reds and whites, as well as a stunning rose, will be the wine in everyone's glass at the regatta.
For more info and to enter, go to www.sailportstephens.com.au
by Jody O'Brien
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