2026 Sail Port Stephens Commodores Cup Passage Series - Day 4
by Mark Rothfield 17 Apr 23:47 UTC
13-18 April 2026
Run to the Port Stephens heads - 2026 Sail Port Stephens Commodores Cup Passage Series © Mark Rothfield
Day 4 at 2026 Sail Port Stephens turned out to be a template for what makes this regatta such a popular choice for sailors up and down the East Coast of Australia.
By start time the forecast west-south-westerly had filled in, and under an azure blue sky the five divisions comprising this year's record fleet of more than 120 boats contesting the Commodores Cup Passage Series were jostling for the best lane from the start off Nelson Bay breakwall out to Little Island.
Congestion and tidal surge resulted in a slew of boats over the line in Division 1. The subsequent general recall and reset saw the boats that opted for a more northerly track out of the heads reaping the rewards, among them 2023 Division 1 champions Llama II, Jon Linton's well-credentialled Dehler 46 from Middle Harbour Yacht Club.
The Llama crew, who had been a tad despondent after several lacklustre performances earlier in the week, found their groove and wound-up the big performance cruiser in the stronger 10-12 knot breeze.
"It was somewhat of a relief to do well when we finally got some breeze today," Linton acknowledged. "The sailing conditions were vintage champagne all round the course.
"Our big (bright yellow) Llama symmetric worked really well on the two downwind legs, which really contributed to the win. We are looking forward to even more wind tomorrow."
Michael Rowe and Ben Martin's Cookson 12 Kanreki were second on PHS, notching their first podium for the regatta, while Joe de Kock's Dehler 44 KD4 just held out the CNB 60 Journey for third place.
In Division 2 Another Fiasco from the Cronulla Sailing Club found the 16.5 nautical mile course to its liking, winning on corrected time by over a minute.
"Our success can be attributed to great team communication, a little luck and an open idea to explore different course options," Fiasco Owner Tim Savage summed up.
"We've had a very enjoyable week," he reported. "Last year Stephen 'Blackie' Blackman was seriously injured in Race 1, our very first race. It was particularly good to have him back this week and to achieve 1st place PHS with him on-board."
There was literally nothing between second and third, with Lee Hawksley's Grand Soleil 40 Andiamo tying on corrected time with Animal Farm, David Rowe's Foundation 36 from the Gosford Sailing Club.
In Division 3 Lunacy, Chris McSorley's Hanse 445 enjoyed the stronger breeze, finishing ahead of smaller rivals Jazz Bar, an Adams 10, and the Bavaria 38 Match Mach 1.
In Division 4 Richard Fleck's Beneteau Oceanis 37 Scuffy received the top honours after a penalty was applied to Slac-N-off.
In the Non-Spinnaker Division Sandy Hume and his crew on Windfalls have logged three wins from the past three races - an extraordinary performance in any regatta.
Tomorrow gusty conditions with strong south-south-westerlies up to 18 knots are forecast, providing the potential for triumph or disaster on the final day of racing.