2018 Yamaha Variety Jet Trek heads into stormy waters

The east coast of Australia may be copping a battering with wild weather this week but the 2018 Yamaha Variety Jet Trek has avoided the worst of it... so far.

Large swells and strong winds did little to dampen the spirits of the field of 115 entrants on the first three days.

The legs so far have taken them from Sydney to Newcastle, Newcastle to Tuncurry and Tuncurry to Port Macquarie, where they have stopped for a scheduled rest day before continuing to Coffs Harbour on Friday (March 22) ahead of the finish in Yamba on Saturday.

The forecast is for more wild weather, with up to four metre swells; the only saving grace is the forecast long interval times of 10 seconds or so, which should buy enough breathing space to navigate the large swells.

If conditions are too severe, however, as part of their permit organisers are obliged to cancel affected legs of the route.

The overwhelmingly majority of the field seems keen to push on and will likely be recharged after today's planned rest day.

On day three the field had dropped to 99 entrants on the water after some temporary retirements by those whose bodies took more of a battering than their jet skis. However, most are likely to rejoin for the final two legs on Friday and Saturday.

So far the entire field of 115 jet skis have been unloaded off their trailers in a little over an hour each morning — sometimes even less than an hour — a credit to the organisers and volunteers who keep the Jet Trek moving and on time.

Of course, the event itself is as much about the off-water activity as it is on the water.

Along the way the Variety Children's Charity has donated computers to students without access to the technology, funded a package of activity classes for special needs kids, and bought and assembled special equipment for a young burns survivor to assist with her long-term recovery.

Over the past 20 years the Variety Jet Trek has raised more than $1.7 million and this year alone is expected to top $340,000. The final figure will be confirmed after the event on Saturday night.

Jet ski riders planning on participating next year will have a choice of two events: Bundaberg to Hamilton Island from March 25 to 31, 2019, and this year's Sydney to Yamba event will be repeated due to popular demand (April 29 to May 4, 2019). Entries will be open in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, for those who can't wait there are still spaces available for the second 2018 Jet Trek from Airlie Beach to Mission Beach, June 3 to 9, 2018.

Boatsales.com.au is taking part in the 2018 Yamaha Variety Jet Trek from Sydney to Yamba. Check back later for a final event update. - Jet Ski Josh.