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Sail Port Stephens

Sail Port Stephens

Sail Port Stephens is a popular sporting event held in April-May each year. Participants from all over Australia compete to win.

Held at the renowned d’Albora Marinas, this event is among the region’s most esteemed and unique sporting events.

Sail Port Stephens 2025 Dates, Event Schedule, Times & Location, NSW

The PASSAGE SERIES (Commodores Cup) runs from 31 March – 5 April. The PERFORMANCE SERIES (NSW Yachting Championships, TP52 Gold Cup Act 3, Rob Hampshire Cup, InterClub 40 Challenge and Super RC Series) runs from 25-27 April. The BAY SERIES (sports boats, J70s) are on 2-4 May, while the dinghy divisions will sail on 3-4 May.

They aim to give competitors the best possible on- and off-water regatta experience in one of the East Coast’s finest sailing destinations, a little over 2-hours from Sydney by car or an easy day sail.

The event dates will always be separate from Easter to maximise the opportunity for boat owners and crew to incorporate the event into their family holiday plans.

While CPSA helped establish Sail Port Stephens as an annual event on the national regatta calendar, as the event has continued to grow, it needed the resources and support of a major club. Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club and Destination Port Stephens are now organising it.

The iconic Commodores Cup series is extended to six days of racing under PHS handicapping. The Port Stephens Trophy will simultaneously be contested under the ORC Club rating system. With a wide variety of courses taking in the many inshore and offshore islands and bays, the opening series will particularly appeal to cruiser-racer crews who enjoy longer and more scenic passage racing. Extra divisions will reduce start-line crowding and allow more equitable boat-to-boat racing.

For spectators who just want to see the action, the festival will include a range of social events, including conferences, dinners, live entertainment, and presentation dinners.

Commodores Cup

The Commodores Cup comprises five days of racing under PHS. With a wide variety of courses taking in the many inshore and offshore islands and bays, the opening series will appeal to cruiser-racer crews who enjoy longer and more scenic passage racing.

Dates for the combined Sail Port Stephens ‘Passage Series’ will be 31 March – 5 April 2025. There is a Reserve Day included in the programme, which may be used as a racing day if required.

  • Open for all types of cruising and racing yachts
  • Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker boats
  • Commodores Cup is raced under PHS (handicaps adjusted daily)
  • One race per day
  • Most courses have fixed marks with some laid buoys
  • Some races around nearby islands
  • YA Category 5 safety regulations apply

Performance Racing Series

The Performance Racing Series is a three-day event held from 25-27 April 2025 at The Anchorage Marina and Anchorage Hotel and Spa, Corlette. It comprises the prestigious NSW Yachting Championships (IRC), Rob Hampshire Cup (ORC), Act 3 of the TP52 Gold Cup (TPR and IRC), and the new Super Racer Cruiser division (IRC).

The fleets will sail a mix of windward-leeward races and passage racing. Yachts wishing to compete under ORC can contest the Rob Hampshire Series, honouring our long-serving administrator, who passed away in 2020.

Bay Series – Sportsboat & J70s

The Bay Sailing Centre at Salamander Bay is hosting a regatta for sports boats, trailer sailers, off-the-beach classes and Windsurfers under the ‘Bay Series’ banner. The weekend of 2-4 May 2025 has been set aside, with the dinghies and sailboards to sail 3-4 May.

Sail Port Stephens Street Party

With the support of Port Stephens Council, a street party is being planned in Nelson Bay on Wednesday, April 2. The party will feature free entertainment, a public street bar, late-night dining and shopping with special offers, and giveaway competitions!

Social Schedule

d’Albora Marina Nelson Bay is the go-to place for Sail Port Stephens Passage Series and Performance Series registrations, briefings, presentations, etc. Please note that this year, the regatta hub will be on the marina forecourt (not Sirena Seaside, formerly Broughtons at the Bay).

The Bay Sailing Centre, Soldiers Point, is hosting the Bay Series.

Car Parking

All parking around the marina is paid for and heavily monitored at Nelson Bay. We advise that if you need to park your car at Nelson Bay, you take advantage of the free undercover carpark on Donald Street, a five-minute walk from the marina.

Detailed maps and directions will be available closer to the event, and details will be included in skipper packs.

There is limited parking at Soldiers Point Marina; however, there is on-street parking available and also some space at Soldiers Point Holiday Park.

The Anchorage Marina has on-site parking and extra space on the street nearby.

Getting to Port Stephens

By water
90 nautical miles from Sydney
78 nautical miles from Pittwater

By car
From Sydney – Approx 3 hours
From Melbourne – Approx 11.5 hours
From Brisbane – Approx 10 hours

By plane
Daily flights into Newcastle Airport from Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

The airport is around a 40-minute drive from the Regatta Centre at d’Albora Marina Nelson Bay. Hire cars are available at the airport, but bookings are recommended.

About the author

Michael Jones

Michael created and runs the Sydney Point website, as well as the Holiday Point travel brand that incorporates a network of 16 location based travel information and attraction websites around Australia, Asia, and around the world.

With 25+ years of online experience and a passion for travel (having visited Sydney many times and seeing a lot of the city in the process), Michael not only researches and writes content for the website, he also tinkers behind the scenes with the website functionality & design.

Please reach out if you have any questions or suggestions.

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What date is the Sail Port Stephens?
What time is the Sail Port Stephens?
Commodores Cup (PHS) and Port Stephens Trophy (ORC Club): 31 March - 5 April 2025
SPS Windward-Leeward Series featuring the NSW Yachting Championships, TP52 Gold Cup Act 3 and Rob Hampshire Cup (ORC): 25 - 27 April 2025
Bay Series: 2 - 4 May 2025
Dinghy Divisions: 3 - 4 May 2025

NCYC Newcastle Port Stephens feeder race
Sunday 30 March
Prizes 5pm or ASAP after sailing
Bus returning to Newcastle approx 7pm

PASSAGE SERIES (Commodores Cup)
Sunday 30 March
Registration 2pm – 5pm at d’Albora Marina Nelson Bay forecourt

Monday 31 March
Registration 8:30am – 10am at d’Albora Marina Nelson Bay forecourt
Briefing 9am at forecourt (optional)
Commodores Cup Race 1 from 10:55am
Official Welcome Party on the beach at Bay Sailing Centre (147b Seaview Cres, Soldiers Point)
Live entertainment by Mick Jones and daily prizes
Drink and food specials
Dance the night away at Bannisters’ Cheeky Dog with entertainer Bobby C

Tuesday 1 April
Daily briefing 9am at d’Albora Marina Nelson Bay forecourt
Commodores Cup Race 2 from 10.55am
Daily results and prizes, 4pm approx.
Sunset Drinks sponsored by Bacardi Rum
Live entertainment

Wednesday 2 April
Daily briefing 9am at d’Albora Marina Nelson Bay forecourt
Commodores Cup Race 3 from 10.55am
Nelson Bay Street Party supported by Peter Drayton Wines
Live entertainment from 5pm
Prizes from 6pm at the Street Party stage, supported by Rolly Tasker Sails
Live band “Love that Hat” from 7pm

Thursday 3 April
Layday (Spare Day if required)
Friday 4 April
Daily briefing 9am at d’Albora Marina Nelson Bay forecourt
Commodores Cup Race 4 from 10.55am
Supported by Pantaenius
Daily results and prizes 4pm approx
Entertainment from 4pm

Saturday 5 April
Daily briefing 9am at d’Albora Marina Nelson Bay forecourt
Commodores Cup Race 5 from 10.55am
FREE Prizegiving and party from 6-10pm at Nelson Bay Bowling Club (63 Dowling St Nelson Bay)
Live entertainment with Sons of Beaches
Food and drinks at bar prices
Dress code is ‘team shirts’ – prizes for best-dressed

PERFORMANCE SERIES
Based at d’Albora Marina Nelson Bay forecourt
Friday 25 April
Briefing 9am
Day 1 NSW Yachting Championships, TP52 Gold Cup, Rob Hampshire Series, InterClub 40 Challenge, Super RC Series
Official welcome presentation from 4pm approx.
Pantaenius prizes

Saturday 26 April
Day 2 NSW Yachting Championships, TP52 Gold Cup, Rob Hampshire Series, InterClub Challenge, Super RC Series
Daily prize presentation from 4pm approx.
Sunset drinks supported by Bacardi and Hahn

Sunday 27 April
Day 3 NSW Yachting Championships, TP52 Gold Cup, Rob Hampshire Series, InterClub Challenge, Super RC Series
Trophy and prize presentation ASAP after sailing at Regatta HQ, d’Albora Marina Nelson Bay

Bannisters BAY SERIES
Thursday 1 May
Registration 4-6pm at Bay Sailing Centre

Friday 2 May
Registration 8-10am at Bay Sailing Centre
Day 1 sports boats/J70s from 11am
Cheeky Dog (Bannisters) from 6pm
Daily prizes and Welcome Drink from 7pm
Cheeky Dog live entertainment, 8pm

Saturday 3 May
Registration from 8am-10am at Bay Sailing Centre
Sports boats/J70s | OTB classes racing from 11am
Cheeky Dog (Bannisters) from 6pm
Daily prizes and Welcome Pizza from 7pm
Cheeky Dog live entertainment, 8pm

Sunday 4 May
Final day – all classes
Prize presentation at Cheeky Dog ASAP after racing

Please visit our website for more information on the Sail Port Stephens.
Where is the Sail Port Stephens located?
What is the Sail Port Stephens address?
What are the Sail Port Stephens entry prices?
Week 1 - Sail Port Stephens Commodores Cup - (31 March to 05 April 2025)
Full Series (5 Races): $550

Week 2 - Sail Port Stephens Performance Racing Series - (25-27 April 2025)
Full Series (6 Races): $450

Week 3 - Sail Port Stephens Bay Series - Sportsboat and J70 (2-4 May 2025)
Full Series (9 Races): $365

Week 3 - Sail Port Stephens Bay Series - Off the Beach (3-4 May 2025)
Full Series (6 Races): $135

Please visit our website for more information on the Sail Port Stephens.
What is the Sail Port Stephens phone number?

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