Vicsail join the Sail Port Stephens party

12:58 AM Thu 4 Dec 2008 GMT

'Bushranger from RPAYC -in IRC Mode - set to return to Sail Port Stephens in 2009 - Sail Port Stephens 2009' Kirk McLean Click Here to view large photo

Vicsail, Australia's leading new yacht dealer, and exclusive agent for three of the world's leading sailboat brands, Beneteau, Lagoon and Wauquiez, is set to join the fun at Sail Port Stephens in April 2009.

Together with the Sail Port Stephens Organising Committee, Vicsail will be personally inviting each and every boat owner in their client network from all around Australia to experience the regatta from April 20 to 26 next year.

All Beneteau Boats will be racing to be the first inscription on the Sail Port Stephens Beneteau Cup, with some great prizes up for grabs for the entire fleet.

The plan is to create a 'Beneteau Club' at Peppers Anchorage resort, with specific marina space set aside for the competing Beneteau yachts, along with a special bar area set up within the resort to allow crews, together with their family and friends, to enjoy post race hospitality each afternoon.

For the Vicsail team, getting involved in Sail Port Stephens made perfectly good sense, both geographically and economically.

'With our Sydney based owners, it's great to be able to compete in a regatta that's not too big a distance from home, but far enough away that it feels like somewhere different - and for those flying in from other parts of the country, Newcastle Airport provides easy access to the regatta' said Vicsail's Company Director, Brendan Hunt.

'We're looking forward to welcoming everyone to the regatta, and based on the success of the special Beneteau morning race briefings and the Beneteau Loud Shirt Lunch at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, we'll be incorporating a few special activities and surprises for our owners and boats at Sail Port Stephens that we're confident will be enthusiastically received..' said Hunt.

Shirts like this one will be a hit at the Beneteau Loud Shirt lunch at Sail Port Stephens 2009 - Sail Port Stephens 2009 - Kirk McLean Click Here to view large photo

The Regatta Organising Committee is delighted to welcome Vicsail and Beneteau into the Sail Port Stephens family, and believes the yachts and crew who come in 2009 will be very pleasantly surprised by what is on offer.

'One of the happiest competitors in 2008 was a Beneteau 40.7 called Bushranger, so much so, they've got the dates set aside and are already organised to come back next year 'said Event Consultant, Jody O'Brien.

'From the owner to his two young young grandsons, and everyone in between, a fantastic time was had by all, with a big thumbs up to the flexibility of being able to race the boat in PHS Cruising for the first half of the week and then take on the windward leeward courses in the Yachting NSW IRC Championships leading into the weekend - and that, combined with an affordable kid friendly social program, made it a great family holiday' she said.

Sail Port Stephens is on from the 20th to the 26th of April with two feeder races leading into the regatta - Pittwater to Newcastle on Saturday 18th April and Newcastle to Port Stephens on Sunday 19th April.

The Commodores Cup (PHS) is the cruisey start to the week from Monday to Wednesday, a lay day on Thursday will feature two fabulous lunch functions and racing will resume on Friday with the IRC Championship and the Port Stephens Trophy (PHS).

The Notice of Race has been posted on the event website and entry is now open at www.sailportstephens.com.au

by Jody O'Brien