10:19 PM Fri 19 Mar 2010 GMT
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'Rock n Roll to defend her Sail Port Stephens title from 2009- the Port Stephens Trophy - Sail Port Stephens'
Event Media
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Sail Port Stephens 2010 is shaping up to a great week, and as a growing event, the Race Management team has a flexible approach to the development of the regatta.
To respond to the needs of a group that has recently become very active in regattas on the east coast, Sail Port Stephens will now have a Super 30 Division - with racing at the back end of the week from the 16th to 18th of April.
The boats in this division will be handicapped under AMS, with courses yet to be decided by Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson and his team.
Thompson is happy to introduce the new division. 'We're keen to establish this Super 30 division this year, and certainly build on it to encourage significant growth in future years and perhaps cement Sail Port Stephens as one of the key regattas for this group' he said.
Typically contested by boats like the Melges 32, Farr 30, the Hick 30, the Bull 9000, the Thompson 870 and Flying Tiger 10 metres, the Super 30's are a dynamic fleet best described as a high performance sport orientated boat ranging in size from 28 to 32 foot.
Port Stephens is no stranger to this fleet with JOG (Junior Offshore Group) and Super 30 Regattas at the Bay being a regular fixture for their calendar in years gone by.
Regatta Director Paul O'Rourke is delighted to be welcoming the Super 30's back to familiar ground.
'We'd love to see this division grow, and given they're an exciting fleet to watch, this certainly helps add another dimension of racing that spectator boats and people watching from vantage points around the Bay, can really enjoy' he said.
Rock'N'Roll, a Melges 32 owned by Kim Williams, was the first boat to move his entry across from Performance Racing this afternoon and he's absolutely thrilled with the introduction of the division.
'By including a Super 30 division, Sail Port Stephens is aligning itself with major regattas such as Audi Victoria Week and Meridien Marina Airlie Beach Race Week' Williams said.
'This gives owners a clear indication that the Race Managers at Sail Port Stephens are listening to the entrants and are intent on providing a first class regatta' he said.
The best practice facilities for launching either by crane or boat ramp at Nelson Bay are second to none and make the trailing of these boats very easy.
To make it all the more attractive for the Super 30 group, it is only a day sail from Sydney, and much less from Lake Macquarie and Newcastle.
'Introducing this division at Sail Port Stephens gives all of the boats from these areas the opportunity to be part of something that is a very close 'away' regatta - and that always adds a good element of fun into the
mix' said Williams.
'Bring on April !! I'm really looking forward to it' he said.
Super 30 entries for Sail Port Stephens are open now - go to
www.sailportstephens.com.au
Entries for all divisions close on April 3.
by Jody O'Brien
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North Bondi, NSW
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