Country and coast meet for weekend of bootscooting

Nelson Bay will become the headquarters for all things country during the June long weekend, with a double headline act leading live performances, entertainment and bootscooting fun at venues across the bay.

Country music stars Jetty Road and Markus Meier will take to the stage on the magnificent Nelson Bay Foreshore as part of the fourth Blue Water Country Music Festival.

And they’ll have plenty of support from Carter and Carter, Ryan Sampson and Steve Passfield, who are just some of the big names who will bring the country to the coast for the 2012 event.

Up-and-coming talent will be on show with the Blue Water Busking Titles and there’ll be bootscooting demonstrations, bush poets and country music brewery tours across the weekend.

Dean Johnston will get the toe-tapping underway with a free performance at d’Albora Marinas on Friday, 8 June, and the music will continue to flow at the festival launch at Soldiers Point Bowling Club at 6.30pm.

Performers including Ryan Sampson, Steve Passfield, Margie May and Kiara will take to the stage for the launch. Tickets cost $20 per person and are available from the club.

Then there’ll be no stopping the country celebration across the weekend.

A highlight will be headline acts Jetty Road and Markus Meier at the Foreshore FM Marquee on the Nelson Bay Foreshore on Saturday, 9 June. As well as fantastic entertainment and a picturesque setting, music-lovers can also enjoy a beverage from the venue’s licensed bar area.

For the full program, visit www.bluewatercountrymusic.com.au

Rain fails to deter record regatta fleet

Organisers are already looking forward to an even bigger fleet of participants in next year’s Sail Port Stephens regatta despite heavy rain that hampered the 2012 competition.

A record 165 craft contested the 2012 event, which wrapped up on April 22 after a week of competition that saw wild weather lead to the abandonment of some races.

But fine weather later in the week has ensured what has become recognised as one of Australia’s fastest growing regattas keep its mantle.

The dominant boats were Aaron Terrey’s Seldon Deck Hardware, which had won all six races leading up to the final day of competition when it took to the waters of Salamander Bay for the Elliott 7 Australian Championship, and Marcus Blackmore’s TP52 Hooligan.

The boat – skippered by five time Sydney to Hobart line honours skipper Mark Richards – had won all four races heading into its last race in the NSW IRC titles, sailed north of Cabbage Tree Island.

The inaugural Sail Port Stephens Junior Regatta attracted 34 keen young sailors and their parents, who battled it out on the water for victory in the two-day event.

The event, supported by Destinations NSW, was held on April 19 and 20 on the waters of Salamander Bay.

And although conditions were testing and far from ideal – ranging from a whiteout to brulliant sunshine – organisers hailed the introduction of the youth regatta a success.

Sail Port Stephens is sponsored by Destinations NSW and Port Stephens Council.

For full results, news, photos and information about the regatta, see www.sailportstephens.nsw.gov.au

Stand up for a bigger and better festival

International athletes, an $8000 prize purse and a festival atmosphere will arrive in Port Stephens for the third NSW Stand Up Paddleboard Titles on May 24 to 27.

With the support of d’Albora Marinas as well as Port Stephens Council, the 2012 event heralds an expansion from a two-day program to four days to host not only NSW’s most elite paddleboard surfers, but a national and international line up on stop 2 of the Australian Stand Up Paddleboard series.

The Southern Cross Festival of Stand Up Paddleboarding presented by d’Albora Marinas will see the action spread across One Mile Beach to Nelson Bay.

The program will offer an elite marathon, short marathon, technical sprint and teams event with state, national and international competitors vying for a share of $8000 in prize money.

Race Director and Surfing NSW Stand Up Paddleboarding representative Elyse Comerford said the event was setting a high standard in its first year as a qualifier for the International Surfing Association (ISA) games.

And the support of d’Albora Marina would “no doubt create a fantastic festival”.

“By making this a professional event is really reflects how SUP is progressing,” she said.

“There are some amazing events in Australia, and Surfing NSW is lifting the standard of SUP, bringing elite, fun and teams SUP races.”

As well as the NSW State Stand Up Paddleboard titles – which act as a qualifier for the Australian Surf Festival – the event also includes stand up paddleboarding demonstrations, board trials and a spectator viewing boat.

And the festival atmosphere will continue on shore, with event stalls and community-based activities along the marina during the weekend.

The Southern Cross Stand Up Paddleboarding Festival presented by d’Albora Marinas is supported by Surfing NSW, Port Stephens Council, One Mile Beach Holiday Park, C4 Waterman, Winning Holidays, VB and Vestal.

* IMAGE: Australian Stand Up Paddleboarder Keahi De Aboitiz (Surfing NSW/Renee Miller)

Let us help you publicise your Port Stephens event

A seaside location, natural beauty and fantastic facilities make Port Stephens an obvious venue for a multitude of events.

From the ever-popular Sail Port Stephens regatta to the Blue Water Country Music Festival and Tates At The Bay, the area lends itself to a range of events and festivals, large or small.

If you have an idea for event in Port Stephens, will you need to use a local park or block off a road? All the information you’ll need can be found at www.eventsportstephens.com.au

And whether it’s a week-long festival or a community-based event, why not publicise it on the www.eventsportstephens.com.au events calendar?

To add your event, contact the Port Stephens Visitors Information Centre on 4980 6900.

Securing Successful Partnerships Workshop

Want to develop partnerships with business? Register NOW to participate in a free one-day workshop which will build the capacity of local artists and arts organisations to engage effectively with business.

Download a copy of the workshop flyer and register on-line at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ArtsBusinessWorkshop or phone Chloe Beevers on (02) 4980 0121.

Port’s Fun Regatta

Sail Port Stephens may have started small but it has now earned the tag of Australia’s fastest growing regatta, with at least 50 yachts set to compete next month and entries not closing until April 3.

To be held from April 12-18, it’s the third running of an event that has been hailed as cost-effective, family friendly and, above all, fun. The Bay’s inshore and offshore courses work a treat.

Money man Paul Clitheroe is bringing his Beneteau 45 Balance, fresh from an IRC Division 2 victory at the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta.

Another notable entry is Rob Hanna’s TP 52 Shotgun from Victoria, while Guy and Clark Holbert will swap their oyster barge for the helm of a Farr 30 Rumbo to compete in the NSW IRC Championship.

The SB3 keelboat class is using the event as its Australian championship and Newcastle’s Mark Prince is at short odds to pull off an upset.

First up, on April 12, is the laid-back Commodores Cup and Port Stephens Trophy before the racing gets serious over the weekend.

“We’re committed to delivering a memorable experience every year, both on and off the water, which naturally makes people want to keep coming back,” spokeswoman Jody O’Brien said.

“We cater for everyone from the seriously competitive racing fleets to those who want to enjoy the cruising options with a bit of competition thrown in.”

See www.sailportstephens.com.au for more information.