Day 4 of the 2026 Sail Port Stephens Commodores Cup showcased the allure of this popular regatta for sailors along the East Coast of Australia. As the race began, the forecast west-south-westerly winds powered up, under a clear blue sky. The record fleet of over 120 boats competed in the Commodores Cup Passage Series, each vying for optimal positioning off the Nelson Bay breakwall towards Little Island.
Tidal surges and overcrowding at the start line resulted in multiple boats in Division 1 being over the line, necessitating a general recall and reset. Sailors who opted for a more northerly route out of the heads, including 2023 Division 1 champions Llama II—Jon Linton’s Dehler 46 from Middle Harbour Yacht Club—made the most of the conditions.
The crew of Llama found their rhythm and excelled in the 10-12 knot breeze, an improvement from their earlier races. Linton expressed relief at their performance: “The sailing conditions were vintage champagne all round the course. Our big (bright yellow) Llama symmetric worked really well on the downwind legs, contributing significantly to our victory. We are looking forward to even more wind tomorrow.”
Michael Rowe and Ben Martin’s Cookson 12 Kanreki finished second on PHS, scoring their first podium of the regatta, closely followed by Joe de Kock’s Dehler 44 KD4, who narrowly beat the CNB 60 Journey for third.
In Division 2, Another Fiasco from Cronulla Sailing Club thrived on the 16.5 nautical mile course, winning on corrected time by over a minute. Owner Tim Savage attributed their success to effective communication and a spirit of exploration in their strategy, emphasising the joy of competing this week, particularly with the repaired presence of teammate Stephen ‘Blackie’ Blackman aboard.
The competition in Division 2 was fierce, with second and third place too close to call, as Lee Hawksley’s Grand Soleil 40 Andiamo tied on corrected time with Animal Farm, David Rowe’s Foundation 36.
In Division 3, Lunacy, helmed by Chris McSorley, capitalised on stronger winds to outperform smaller craft, Jazz Bar, and the Bavaria 38 Match Mach 1.
Richard Fleck’s Beneteau Oceanis 37 Scuffy claimed victory in Division 4 after a penalty was assessed against Slac-N-off.
In the Non-Spinnaker Division, Sandy Hume and his crew on Windfalls achieved a remarkable three wins in as many races, an exceptional feat for any regatta.
As the final day of racing approaches, forecasts predict gusty conditions with strong south-south-westerlies reaching up to 18 knots, setting the stage for either success or setbacks.
Sail Port Stephens 2026 is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism agency Destination NSW, Port Stephens Council and subsidiary sponsors.
https://www.sailportstephens.com.au/
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