YA President comes to Sail Port Stephens

2:50 AM Sat 25 Apr 2009 GMT

'Under the radar...the YA Pres flies in - Sail Port Stephens' Anthony Kelly Click Here to view large photo

Melbourne Yachting Identity and President of Yachting Australia, Andrew Plympton, flew into Newcastle Airport late last night and whilst no-one was able to get a front on shot of him, his voice and distinctive laugh was certainly heard amongst the crowd of yachties, family and friends at the Nelson Bay Diggers Club.

Clearly he'd been effectively briefed about the social side of the regatta, and was in completely in tune with the theme of the evening - Spend the Night in Something White with Tooheys New White Stag - sporting a crisp white Ralph Lauren shirt, designer jeans and shoes - befitting of his residential origin of the fashion capital of Australia, Melbourne.

After pressing the flesh last night, he joined a big bunch of yachties who set their alarms for an early start to make it to the Anzac Day Dawn Service to pay their respects, and then moved with the crowd to the Diggers for a bacon and egg start to the day.

The fine threads he arrived in were swapped for his SLAM wet weather gear today as he stepped on board Wild Rose, owned and skippered by his state based partner in crime, Roger Hickman, who is the president of Yachting NSW.

Not one for too much action offshore, the Pres was heard to be muttering something about not going out in anything over 10 knots to his selectively deaf crew this morning (the selective deafness is a well developed skill when you hang around with him long enough), so he was completely satisfied with the decision by PRO Denis Thompson to race the IRC Fleet on a course in Salamander Bay.

Delighted with the number and quality of boats that have turned up to Sail Port Stephens this year, he believes the event has got a great future ahead of it.

'As most people would know, in my time in the sport, including long before I was elected President, I've been to a lot of regattas all around the world, and I think the location, structure and timing of Sail Port Stephens is fantastic - and it's marvellous for yachting to have another quality event to add to the national calendar' he said.

He'll be mingling amongst the crowd at Shoal Bay Resort and Spa tonight as the crews from a large number of the 64 boats competing gather for the SLAM Crew Dinner & Party.

Another great night filled with plenty of laughs, lots of Wild Oats Wines and Tooheys New White Stag looms as old mates reunite and new friendships are established - and the tales get taller by the hour and by the glass about the feats out on the water today.

by Jody O'Brien

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