SailFest Newcastle Regatta 2025 Overall
by Mark Rothfield 23 Mar 10:45 UTC
20-23 March 2025
Zen excels in light air - SailFest Newcastle Regatta 2025 Day 2 © Promocean Media
Light airs, heavy airs, harbour starts and choppy windward-leewards... nothing phased the TP52 Matador as it took both IRC and TPR honours at the 6th annual SailFest Newcastle Regatta over the weekend.
The result stretched the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia entrant's lead in the 2025 Pallas Capital Gold Cup, however owner David Doherty says the field is definitely compressing as Matador has become the hunted.
"It's getting harder and harder, and the gaps are getting down to seconds," he said. "We lost one by four seconds yesterday and won one by 10 seconds, which is great for the TP class.
"The joy of my boat is that we've kept a very consistent crew, and we just try to do our thing. The boat has always been known as a light air performer but we've also won in 30 knots; I think we've changed its range for the better."
In Division 2 IRC the Farr 40OD Seeking Alpha clung onto its overnight lead, beating the Corby 36 Let's Get it On by 1pt and the Farr sistership KD1 (Joe De Kock, Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club) by 2pts.
"A very tricky day," said owner David Hamilton. "We'd expected a little more pressure than there was and it was all over the shop, so quite stressful sailing."
The two Farr 40s were rarely separated in today's final two races.
"The last race they went inshore and benefited from less current but thankfully the breeze filled in and we got the result. Clearly, Joe knows the local waters really well and it was super tempting to follow him, but we invested in the right and believed in it.
Tom Spithill was calling tactics on Seeking Alpha and Hamilton had high praise for his crew.
"It was our second regatta with the boat - next up is Sail Port Stephens (March 31-April 5) so we'll see how we get on there."
Peter Farrugia's Bull 9000 Bullwinkle claimed both wins today after three 4ths yesterday. As consolation, it won the PHS division.
Second place overall in the TP52s went to Gordon Ketelbey's Zen from Middle Harbour Yacht Club, a confidence booster ahead of its upcoming Admiral's Cup tilt.
"We spent a lot of time, and lots of money, on the boat but it's paying off," Ketelbey said. "It's super competitive in light airs - we came first across the line twice today, beating Hooligan which is a brand new, state-of-the-art design.
"Mid-range stuff we're not too sure about, so being competitive in the UK will depend on what turns up, wind-wise."
In other results, ORC honours went to Let's Get it On and the Cruising title to the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 44 Ca Va. The Sailing Champions League - Asia Pacific final was won by the Royal Sydney Yacht Club crew of Zac West, Katina Casimaty, Gretel Payne and Garth Bickford.
The F18 Magical, sailed by Kyle Amadio and Andrew Driver, claimed Saturday's Cock of the Harbour race, eclipsing the Taipan 4.9 Just Play sailed by Sam and Saxon Breadon. Third was the 16ft skiff Kilos. Yardstick victor was the VS SFC sailed by Michael Babbage, Lennon Sullivan and Gabe Turton, from another VS, Runaway, sailed by Steve Sims, Troy Botting and Jeremy Dodds.
Conducted by the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, SailFest marked 180 years since the first Newcastle Regatta was held.
The event is supported by the City of Newcastle, Hahn and Bacardi.
Event website: sailfest.com.au