Plans are in motion for one of the first major organised offshore sailing events since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Pantaenius Breakout Series (PBS) will take place on August 8, and will see a fleet of racing and cruising yachts assemble in Sydney Harbour and finish in Port Stephens.
The regatta came about through the collaboration between Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club and Middle Harbour Yacht Club.
Together, these two clubs enlisted the support of the other major Sydney sailing clubs for the Breakout Series, an aptly name regatta considering sailors are going stir-crazy since restrictions were put on sailing in March.
What started as a low-key cruising rally from Sydney to Port Stephens evolved into regatta with the potential to attract hundreds of participating sailors.
Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club is keen to support a stopover for Breakout Series entrants, while Ric Pacey from the Port Stephens Yacht Club has pledged support and cooperation.
"Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (NCYC) is delighted to be hosting one of the stop overs on the Pantaenius Breakout Series 8 to 14 August," the sailing manager at NCYC, Jack Buchan, says.
"After having Sailfest Newcastle cancelled in April we have all been stuck ashore.
"Our members are keen to get back on the ocean.
"With Queensland borders closed, this will be a great alternative to the usual Whitsunday events," he says.
"A fleet coming from Sydney will provide quite the spectacle when they sail down the harbour and will hopefully boosts the profile of sailing in the region."
NCYC will be sending several boats to Sydney to compete in the initial legs.
For those interested, the Notice of Race was published on Wednesday.
The format involves boats taking off on Saturday, August 8, from Sydney Harbour and arriving at Pittwater.
They will stay overnight at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.
On Sunday, August 9, crews will head north to the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club. The club has set aside 60 berths for participating 60 vessels, with plans in place to send any excess boats on to Port Stephens if the fleet expands past the club's capacity.
On Monday, August 10, there will be a race to Port Stephens, that will start at 10am off Queens Wharf in Newcastle.
This will be followed by a lay day, and then there will be three days of racing from Wednesday, August 12, with a passage race out and around all the islands and back.
Anyone who knows the area will know just how tactical this will be.
There is then two more days of racing inside.
"After three days of sailing in Port Stephens, we are hoping some of the Sydney boats will return to Newcastle for the annual Asahi Country Championship 28-29 August," Buchan says.
For those who have sorely missed the challenge of offshore racing, the PBS will offer three categories: Performance, Two-Handed, and Cruising (Non-Spinnaker).
Depending on entry numbers, there could be three Performance divisions.
Five entries will the minimum requirement for the Two-Handed division, while it's envisaged there will be enough interest for two Cruising divisions.
A more leisurely option for the passage will also be available in the form of a Breakout Cruise, stopping at the same overnight destinations to Port Stephens as the racing fraternity.
Each participating club will host a shore function depending on what kind of social interaction is permitted in early August.
Following the Notice of Race, there has been healthy interest, especially among the seasoned crews in Sydney.
The Making Waves Foundation will be bringing their TP5, and the proceeds of the raffles and prizes at the various host clubs will go to the foundation, as the series' nominated charity.
Jack O'Rourke is a contributor to Ocean Media
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