Two days left to score some SLAM gear for Sail Port Stephens

3:16 AM Fri 30 Jan 2009 GMT

'Sail Port Stephens 2008' Kirk McLean Click Here to view large photo

Almost the end of January, which means there's two days left to score some SLAM gear by getting your entry in for Sail Port Stephens 2009.

Entries in before midnight on Saturday the 31st of January will score themselves a SLAM welcome pack of gear, to be collected at the regatta.

Numbers are steadily growing for the event, and with 2009 its second year, all indicators point to the fleet numbers enjoying a conservative jump, with a large portion of last year's competitors already entered again, and a steady increase of newcomers.

The regatta has been created and will continue to evolve as an affordable family friendly sailing holiday, where you can soak up the whole week of action (20 to 26 April) on and off the water, or fit the back end of the regatta into your schedule and enjoy a long weekend (24 to 26 April) in the Bay with some great racing, and good times.

For the boats from Sydney and further south, there are two feeder races to get you to Sail Port Stephens, starting with the RPAYC's Pittwater to Newcastle race, part of their Bluewater Offshore Point Score Series on Saturday 18 April. Slip into a free overnight berth at NCYC, and be wowed by their gorgeous new clubhouse - a long time in the making, but well worth the wait, and a welcome party awaits the offshore racers that night.

The home stretch gets underway on Sunday morning (19 April) as the fleet heads from Newcastle to Port Stephens, a race hosted by NCYC.

Sail Port Stephens kicks off on Monday (not too early...a very civilised midday start) with the Commodores Cup - a three day, three race series taking in some picturesque racetracks in and around the Bay and surrounding islands.
Social fun with a family friendly theme abounds each night before a lay day on Thursday offers up a laid back Beneteau Loud Shirt lunch at Peppers for the boys and a Pink Seafood and Wine lunch at Shoal Bay Resort and Spa for the girls.

It's back on the water on Friday for the Yachting NSW IRC Championship and the Port Stephens Trophy (PHS), as well as the exciting Melges 24 National Championship, to be hosted at Sail Port Stephens for the first time this year- and of course the social fun continues each night at a different location around the Bay, with bus transport provided to and from each venue.

Racing concludes early Sunday afternoon with the prize giving to follow immediately after the last race, allowing boats and crews plenty of time to make tracks, whether it be on water or by road or air (for those coming from interstate, Newcastle Airport has direct flights from Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast...and the airport is about 30 mins drive from the regatta centre..)

From little things, big things grow, and this growth 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 -with significant 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 www.sailportstephens.com.auor email sailportstephens09@gmail.com

by Jody O'Brien

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Two days left to score some SLAM gear for Sail Port Stephens

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