16ft and 13ft Skiffs National Championship - Report and images

by Michael Chittenden on 5 Jan 2011 Race 3 of the Australian 16ft and 13ft Skiff Championships, Manly Brisbane, Queensland.

Race 3 of the Australian 16ft and 13ft Skiff Championships was sailed in fine, partly cloudy conditions with a East-South-East wind of 15-17 knots at the start. Whilst threatened storms did not eventuate, the breeze strengthened to 20-24 knots by the last leg of the race.

All boats carried their big rigs, as the breeze was not forecast to exceed 15 knots.

'Fluid Building' sailed by Clint Bowen from Manly (NSW) lead from start to finish and revelled in the freshening breeze. 'Brydens Compensation Lawyers' sailed by Lee Knapton from the Georges River Club held second place for most of the race and began to close on 'Fluid' in the finishing stages to finish only 10 seconds behind them. 'Spatial Info', Kieran Humphries, also from Georges River, sailed consistently to finish in third place, 35 seconds behind 'Brydens'.

The strengthening breeze caused some excitement at the mark roundings today keeping those on board the 'Lady Brisbane' spectator ferry entertained.

Wednesday is a layday with heats continuing on Thursday and finishing on Sunday.

After 3 heats of the 16ft and 13ft Skiffs national championships host by the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS), Manly, Brisbane, Fluid Building Skippered by Clint Bowen leads Brydens Compensation Lawyers (Lee Knapton) and Hubble Cleaning Products (Nathan Wilmot) in the 16s

Bell Potter Securities skippered by Declan Reilly leads Fluid Building (Georgia Clancy) and Northside Air Conditioning (Fiona Walker) in the 13s.