Sail Port Stephens Junior Regatta – the start of something big

by Sail Port Stephens media on 20 Apr 2012 The two day Sail Port Stephens Junior Regatta began yesterday, Thursday 19th and concludes today Friday 20th.

Being sailed as part of Sail Port Stephens 2012 this new regatta has attracted 34 keen young sailors and their dedicated parents.

After the record rain fall of the past week, yesterday the rain at least eased and the sun shone for periods.

Although conditions were still tricky and testing and although far from ideal, ranging from a whiteout to brilliant sunshine, the starters in this inaugural youth regatta clearly had fun.

The morning excitement on the beach continued on water, with sailors interacting amongst themselves, their enthusiasm obvious.

After three races on day 1, Tom Grimes, the 13 year old sailor from Lake Macquarie who won the O’Pen Bic National championship in a strong 64 boat fleet at Easter, is leading the event.

Tom has been sailing Flying 11’s on Lake Macquarie at Belmont 16 ft skiff club for three years and this is only in his second season in O’Pen Bics.

‘This is a great place to sail. They have a great fleet of O’Pen Bics here and they are going to be getting Flying 11’s too.'

Lachlan Atkins from the Cronulla Sailing Club, is second overall.

He was happy after day 1 and explained ‘I have been sailing in an O’Pen Bic, a Flying 11 and a Manly Junior for the last few years now.

‘At the Nationals I got third in my division, which is under 12s, and I finished seventh overall out of 64 boats. That’s pretty much the best result I have had this year. That was at Easter.’

Karen Nye is President of the Port Stephens Sailing and Aquatic Club.

‘We have 34 boats in this inaugural school holiday regatta; a mixture of O’Pen Bics, Sabots and a Laser 4.7.

‘Many of the children here sailing in this Junior Regatta haven’t sailed in a regatta before or have only sailed at one regatta. Probably for 80% of them it is their first season of sailing as well. It is very exciting for them. There were lots of nerves out there in the morning.'

She continued. ‘Our Junior program is going from strength to strength and this event is a great boost to junior sailing in this area.

‘Our Club has been getting great support from Corlette Point Sailing Club, Port Stephens Yacht Club and Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, who are all working with us on a regional youth program.

‘Since January last year 70 children have completed our learn to sail basic skills course. We now have over 100 members, 80% of those new members are families and we have also grown our senior membership as well.

‘It is very easy to grow the family membership. Children bring their friends along to our Club here (we are just in front of Salamander Shores on the water) on a Sunday morning and that friend can sail three times before joining our program.’

Paul O’Rourke, Sail Port Stephens Regatta Director, commented this morning ‘We believe the Junior regatta will grow and grow. We will not be surprised to have 100 plus boats in a couple of years. It will go from strength to strength.’

The event is being sponsored by Soldiers Point Marina and Port Stephens Beachside Holiday Park.

Results Top 10:

Junior OTB Single-Handed Series:
1 4375 Tom Grimes B16S 7.0 3.0 3.0 1.0
2 1.0S 5224 Lachlan Atkins CSC 11.0 7.0 1.0 3.0
3 1390 Sam Luker TASC 11.0 2.0 2.0 7.0
4 5042 Margot Mason ASC 13.0 6.0 5.0 2.0
5 4376 Jess Grimes B16S 14.0 4.0 4.0 6.0
6 3706 Alistair Read ASC 16.0 5.0 7.0 4.0
7 3638 Tom Stivano PSAC 21.0 1.0 10.0 10.0
8 7049 James Robson TASC 22.0 8.0 6.0 8.0
9 4517 Anneliese Knaack GLSC 25.0 11.0 9.0 5.0
10 4526 Annika Mason ASC 29.0 9.0 8.0 12.0

One Design:
1 4375 ANTARES Tom Grimes B16S 5.0 2.0 2.0 1.0
2 5224 WASABI Lachlan Atkins CSC 10.0 6.0 1.0 3.0
3 5042 MAXIMUM MUFFIN Margot Mason ASC 11.0 5.0 4.0 2.0
4 4376 SPUD Jess Grimes B16S 12.0 3.0 3.0 6.0
5 3706 C Alistair Read ASC 13.0 4.0 5.0 4.0
6 3638 F Tom Stivano PSAC 17.0 1.0 8.0 8.0
7 4517 E Anneliese Knaack GLSC 21.0 9.0 7.0 5.0
8 4526 PERPETUALLY ANNOYED Annika Mason ASC 23.0 7.0 6.0 10.0
9 3812 H Korben Donaldson PSSAC 28.0 8.0 13.0 7.0
10 5212 BIC Harrison Bailey PSSAC 36.0 10.0 15.0 11.0

Mixed Class Top Three:
1 1390 PLAYSTATION Sam Luker TASC 3.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
2 7049 HORNET James Robson TASC 6.0 2.0 2.0 2.0
3 168134 SOUTHERLY BUSTER Madison Lee PSSAC 9.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

Full results, entries and more information can be found at Sail Port Stephens website www.sailportstephens.com.au

For more information on Soldiers Point Marina visit their website http://www.soldiersptmarina.com.au

For more information on Port Stephens Beachside Holiday Park visit their website at http://www.beachsideholidays.com.au