12:36 AM Tue 13 Apr 2010 GMT
Bruce MacKenzie, the Mayor of Port Stephens welcomed all Sail Port Stephens competitors to the Welcome Party held at the Shoal Bay Resort and Spa at Shoal Bay last evening.
The 72 year-old grandfather is not what one would normally expect in a Mayor - he was a lot of fun and fit in so much with the yachting fraternity that Troy Dillon and CMist crew from Sydney were insistent that the Mayor come and race in the Commodore's Trophy with them today in the Pub to Pub race which will be held on the bay at Port Stephens.
'We'll come and pick you up,' was the CMist threat. Today all will be revealed - will the Mayor take the challenge - or not?
The evening was MC'd by Ian Cover of the hilarious ABC Radio's 'Coodabeens' show, who grilled the Mayor and handed out the prizes for Sail Port Stephen's Day 1 racing.
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Party lovers Kim and John Clinton of Wolverines fame at Sail Port Stephens 2010 -
Andrea Francolini
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There is nothing 'regular' about this fun regatta - so those finishing first, second and third did not receive the prizes - they were awarded willy-nilly anyone who did not finish in the top three.
Newly dubbed 'the friendly Mayor' by sailors at the party, Mayor MacKenzie confidently announced: 'we have 83 entries this year, next year it will be 100.' The Mayor went on to tell how he had lived in the region forever and how is father used to drive a horse and coach to Port Stephens - hard to imagine today!
Guests thoroughly got into the banter between Ian Cover and guests and there were lots of laughs and lots of 'porkies' being told of the different sailing feats as seen through the crews' own eyes!
While getting into the theme of the party, guests imbibed in some Oatley's wine tasting - all in all it was a delicious evening!
www.sailportstephens.com.au
by Di Pearson
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