Sail Port Stephens
Sail Port Stephens takes place Apr 12 - 17, 2027 (Commodores Cup week; later weeks run Apr 23 - 25 and Apr 30 - May 2) in Port Stephens, Australia. The dress code is Casual holiday-town wear; a light jacket for evenings as autumn cools. Typical cost ranges from 600 to 1800 EUR per person.
An autumn regatta in the sheltered bays and coastal waters of Port Stephens, a little over two hours north of Sydney, now run as three distinct racing weeks rather than one block. It mixes passage, coastal and windward-leeward racing across a wide fleet, with the social side based around Nelson Bay and d'Albora Marina. It is one of the largest Australian regattas by participation and among the most relaxed.
- When
- Apr 12 - 17, 2027 (Commodores Cup week; later weeks run Apr 23 - 25 and Apr 30 - May 2)
- Where
- Port Stephens, Australia
- Dress code
- Casual holiday-town wear; a light jacket for evenings as autumn cools
- Cost
- Typical cost ranges from 600 to 1800 EUR per person.
- Weather
- 16 - 24C, mild autumn with generally moderate sea breezes
- When to book
- Book Nelson Bay accommodation 3 months out; entries open through the official site over the summer
- Getting there
- NTL (Newcastle), about 30 min to Nelson Bay; SYD about 2.5 h by road
- Where to stay
- Bannisters Port Stephens, The Anchorage Port Stephens, Mantra Nelson Bay
- Official site
- https://www.sailportstephens.com.au/
How to attend
Spectating is free from the Nelson Bay foreshore and the marina, where the social functions are held and visitors are generally welcome. Boat entries and the crew register go through sailportstephens.com.au, and choosing the right week matters - Commodores Cup in mid-April is the accessible one. Nelson Bay is a holiday town with beaches and dolphin cruises, so the regatta doubles easily as a family trip.
Spectating from the Nelson Bay foreshore and marina is free and visitors are welcome at the social functions, so there is no public ticket - the official site handles boat entries and the crew register.
Insider tip
The event now splits into three separate weeks - Commodores Cup is the social, broad-fleet one, while the later Performance Racing and Super Series weeks are aimed squarely at serious crews.
Get inside Sail Port Stephens
Booking matters here: book Nelson Bay accommodation 3 months out; entries open through the official site over the summer. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 573 more events across the season.
Free while in beta. One email when your invitation is ready, nothing else.