12:04 AM Fri 16 Apr 2010 GMT
Another sparkling autumn day more typical of summer has greeted competitors at Sail Port Stephens as the racing heats up with the commencement of the second stage of the week-long regatta, now in its third year.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Kenn Batt is predicting this morning's land breeze will give way to a south easterly by late morning, going left a little during the afternoon.
His forecast is for sou'easters offshore between 5 and 14 knots around start time for the IRC fleet contesting their state championship, possibly building to 16 knots by mid afternoon.
The ongoing fine weather and light winds are thanks to a high pressure system centred over the Tasman and expected to remain the dominant feature until the regatta comes to a close this Sunday.
Another warm day is on the cards with temps due to reach the mid 20s.
The first race of the IRC fleet's six-race Championship is scheduled to get underway at 11.30am offshore while the Performance Racing, Performance Cruising and SB3s will be racing inshore on Nelson and Salamander bays.
Today's forecast:
Forecast winds for offshore area:
1000:MD150 DR(170-130) MS08 SR04-12kn
1200:MD140 DR(160-120) MS10 SR05-14kn
1400:MD130 DR(150-110) MS12 SR06-16kn
1600:MD120 DR(140-100) MS12 SR06-16kn
1800:MD120 DR(140-100) MS11 SR05-15kn
For further information please visit
www.sailportstephens.com.au
by Lisa Ratcliff
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