AS a sailor from Hobart, Charlie Zeeman has encountered just about everything Mother Nature can throw at a boat.
But as he sailed with three fellow Tasmanians off the Honeysuckle shore on Newcastle Harbour on Friday, Mr Zeeman found himself undertaking a new role.
"I'm the stick spotter," he explained.
After the recent heavy rains, debris had been flushed down the Hunter River into the harbour, creating a challenge for the ten teams visiting from clubs around the nation to compete in the Sailing Champions League Asia Pacific races.
Never mind the flood debris. The four Tasmanian crew members, who had never sailed in Newcastle Harbour before, were surprised how the working industrial port could also be a recreational playground and an arena for competition.
"I think it's a really good location for a spectator sport," said Alice Buchanan.
Indeed, spectators' eyes are filled with water sports this weekend in Newcastle.
While the world's best surfers have been riding the waves rolling into Merewether Beach a few kilometres away, top sailors are scooping up the winds around the harbour and beyond, as part of the three-day SailFest Newcastle Regatta.
Along with the 21-foot sailboats racing off Honeysuckle, SailFest features all manner of vessels, from skiffs and catamarans to yachts, including renowned Sydney-to-Hobart competitors.
The yachts will be racing off shore in what is likely to be the biggest gathering of its type anywhere in the world in the past year, since COVID took the wind out of sailing competitions globally.
That event, known as the TP52 Gold Cup, will begin with the firing of the guns at Fort Scratchley at 12.30pm on Saturday.
SailFest Newcastle Regatta director Paul O'Rourke said the events were a celebration of about 176 years of sailing in the mouth of the Hunter. The first regatta was held on the harbour in 1845.
"Newcastle's had a very long history of sailing," said Mr O'Rourke.
"The original regatta was older than the Australia Day regatta in Sydney, and it's kind of got a little lost in history. So to be able to bring it back and put a focus on it is fantastic."
That long history is being acknowledged on Saturday with a race known as Cock of the Harbour, to determine the fastest sailing boat on the water. The competitors are vying for one of the oldest sailing trophies in the country, as they race from the Stockton shore.
More than remembering and rekindling maritime traditions, the SailFest participants include competitors who are hoping to make their own history on the water.
Sailing in the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron team in the races off Honeysuckle on Friday was Mara Stransky.
The Queenslander has been selected to represent Australia in sailing at the Tokyo Olympic Games in a few months. The first-time Olympian has had a disrupted preparation because of COVID-19.
"The last year we haven't gone anywhere to compete," Ms Stransky said. "It all feels a bit surreal to be honest, and I think it won't hit me until I'm in Japan.
"I'm feeling pretty happy with my progress, but it's hard to gauge where you're at internationally."
Mara Stransky said she considered the Newcastle races to be part of her preparation. This was her first time sailing on Newcastle Harbour.
"To be honest, I hadn't realised you could sail in here," Ms Stransky said.
"It's a bigger area than I thought we'd get, but it's just as challenging, if not more, than I thought it would be."
Part of those challenges were shifting winds that snuck behind the harbourside buildings and ships berthed at wharves.
"It's pretty tricky for sailing," Mara Stransky said, as she surveyed the water from the Honeysuckle shore. "It looks a lot easier from here."
The world's largest coal export port also threw up moving obstacles, such as bulk carriers, tugs, and even the odd fishing trawler.
To Mark Turnbull, the Sailing Champions League Asia Pacific director and himself an Olympian who won a gold medal at the Sydney games, all that activity on the harbour only added to the attraction of the venue for the sailors.
"To actually do it in an industrial port is unique," said Mr Turnbull. "But it's really attractive.
"It's been really eye opening, what Newcastle has to offer sailing."
What's more, the Melburnian said, this harbour was good for spectators.
"This is brilliant because it actually brings the sailing to the people," he said.
"To have a venue like this, where there's bars and clubs and restaurants. And [the competition] is not just within viewing distance, it's actually within hearing distance, so they can hear what's happening."
As Sam King, the skipper of the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania team said, "If somewhere's not on the sailing map, that's good; it means more potential sailors see you."
Paul O'Rourke said having sails blooming on the harbour amid the ships coming and going was also good for Newcastle.
"It softens the harbour, it softens the town, and it's a great high profile for the sport," Mr O'Rourke said. "Standing this way looking out, you see the coal ships. But when you're on the water looking back, it's a beautiful city, and it's a beautiful body of water to sail in.
"It's grandstand sailing, you're right at the harbour entrance.
"It's a fantastic spot to sail."
