55th Interdominion Championship - Sydney Sailmakers press their case

by Di Pearson on 3 Jan 2015

Nick Press and Andrew Stevenson on the wire Vita Williams

Following on from winning the NSW 12ft Skiff Championship in November, the in-form Nick Press/Andrew Stevenson pushed Sydney Sailmakers to a stunning start on Sydney Harbour in Race one of the 12ft Skiff Interdominion and galloped away to win by a huge margin.

Sailing from the start near Shark Island to the first mark, the Beashel Buoy in a building nor’easter on a wavy Harbour, Sydney Sailmakers initially led Brett Hobson/Brad Phillips sailing Geotherm (second at the NSW Championship) and the Kiwi entry, Little Bus (Chris Reid/Andrew Clarke).

Little Bus - bow up under kite © Vita Williams

The trio seemed to be extending away from the rest of the Aussie and Kiwi fleet competing in the 55th running of the annual stoush between Australia and New Zealand and held alternately in each country. Eventually Alex Vailings/Fraser Brown on C-Tech White (NZL) found the overtaking lane and left their countrymen behind on the run back to Shark Island, while Sydney Sailmakers distanced itself from the rest, her crew not putting a foot wrong.

Alex Vailings and Fraser Brown (C-Tech White) © Vita Williams

By the second run to Shark Island, the seaway and increasing breeze had taken its toll, causing frequent capsizes and some breakages. Unlucky was one of the crew aboard Cougar, who after a capsize was struggling to move with a reoccurring pinched nerve and back problem.

Sydney Sailmakers leads Geotherm and Little Bus © Vita Williams

As a number rushed to assist, Geotherm capsized and C-Tech White hit a mark, leaving the gate open for Little Bus to steam through, but there was no catching Sydney Sailmakers who stormed home to win by over two minutes to Little Bus. C-Tech White was third and an unhappy Brett Hobson skippered Geotherm to fourth.

Cautious as ever, Press said of their win, 'In the end we had a good win. The first two works were tight with Geotherm and the Kiwis. We kept it simple and didn’t make any major mistakes and had some fun rides along the way.

Just after start © Vita Williams

'It’s definitely good to win – you can’t ask for a better start to a regatta,' Press said.

'A perfect first day,' said Little Bus skipper, Chris Reid. 'We’re happy to kick of the Interdominion with a second.'

In response to Sydney Sailmakers’ big win, Reid said: 'Every squirrel gets its nut and tomorrow is another day. Those guys know the Harbour really well, but I’ve sailed on it a few times too – and it’s anyone’s on the right day.'

Most chose to use their number three rigs, but the only female in the fleet, Adrienne Cahalan and her crew Brett Phillips (Chapman High Performance Sailing), went with the smaller number four rig and finished 20th.

'We had a good day, but we had a swim at Bradley’s Head – it was costly and shouldn’t have happened,' said Cahalan, a world-class navigator.

In all, six boats did not finish, putting them on the back foot for tomorrow’s Races two and three, starting from 2.30pm.

The 12-race 12ft Skiff Interdominion is hosted by the Australian18 Footers League at Double Bay, assisted by the Double Bay Sailing Club and will conclude on 10 January, 2015.

Interdominion Invitation Handicap Trophy Results

Provisional

Bow #

Nat.

Boat Name

Skipper

Crew

Hcp

Start Time

Finish Time

Elapsed

Scratch Place

Adjusted Time

Handicap

Place

AUS-T

Sydney Sailmakers

Nick Press

Andrew Stevenson

15:07:00

16:28:05

1:21:05

16:27:05

NZL-T

Little Bus

Chris Reid

Andrew Clarke

15:07:00

16:30:20

1:23:20

16:30:20

NZL-T

C-Tech White

Alex Vallings

Fraser Brown

15:07:00

16:30:50

1:23:50

16:30:50

AUS-T

Geotherm

Brett Hobson

Brad Phillips

15:07:00

16:31:41

1:24:41

16:31:41

AUS-T

Ghetto Sled

Richard Billet

Ben Cross

15:07:00

16:33:49

1:26:49

16:28:49

AUS-T

Big Foot Custom Trapeze Harnesses

Murray Press (V)

Scott Lanham

15:07:00

16:34:44

1:27:44

16:29:44

AUS-T

Lincoln Crowne

Jonathan Temple (V)

Richard Jones

15:07:00

16:37:44

1:30:44

16:36:44

AUS

Cunning Stunts

Lachie Paramor

Scott Hobson

15:07:00

16:38:05

1:31:05

16:29:05

AUS-T

The Bird

Dave Lusty (V)

Glenn Farquhar

15:07:00

16:38:07

1:31:07

16:29:07

NZL-T

As Good As It Gets

Glenn Armstrong

Roger Barnes

15:07:00

16:38:19

1:31:19

16:38:19

AUS

Hempel Yacht Paints

Michael Spies (V)

Robbie Polec

15:07:00

16:39:32

1:32:32

16:32:32

NZL-T

One and In

Ben De Flutier

Matt Kelway

15:07:00

16:40:52

1:33:52

16:33:52

AUS

Hey Charger!

Nick Bernard (V)

Billy Lusty

15:07:00

16:40:54

1:33:54

16:27:54

AUS-T

Skoll

Peter Polec (V)

Jamie McCrudden

15:07:00

16:41:17

1:34:17

16:35:17

NZL-T

Ugly Stick

Simon Ganley

Oliver Scott-Mackie

15:07:00

16:43:02

1:36:02

16:38:02

AUS

Your Move Conveyancing

Dave Winning

Josh McCormack

15:07:00

16:46:03

1:39:03

16:33:03

NZL-T

Liquid

Mike Rhodes

Thomas Olds

15:07:00

16:48:12

1:41:12

16:39:12

AUS

Stay Connected Electrical

Jacob Ronowicz

Craig Nicholson

15:07:00

16:48:16

1:41:16

16:36:16

AUS

www.skiff.org.au

Ben Faulkner

Renn Holland

15:07:00

16:48:22

1:41:22

16:38:22

AUS

Chapman High Performance Sailing

Adrienne Cahalan (V)

Brett Phillips

15:07:00

16:48:32

1:41:32

16:38:32

AUS

Slippery When Wet

John Williams (V)

Macca Paton

15:07:00

16:55:57

1:48:57

16:36:57

AUS

Citadel

Martin Debelle (V)

Ian Terley

15:07:00

17:15:01

2:08:01

16:51:01

AUS

Maersk

Adam Forbes

Alex Johnson

15:07:00

DNF

AUS

Cougar

Cam Russell (N)

Brad Madders

15:07:00

DNF

AUS

Havoc

Josh Franklin (N)

Jono Andersen

15:07:00

DNF

AUS

At Call

John Mulquiney (N)

Angus Musgrove

15:07:00

DNF

AUS

Arrogant Frog

Peter Hill

Steve Hill

15:07:00

DNF

NZL-T

W2 Training

Tim Snedden (N)

Will Wright

15:07:00

DNF

Fastest

Handicap

1st

Sydney Sailmakers

Nick Press / Andrew Stevenson

1st

Sydney Sailmakers

Nick Press / Andrew Stevenson

2nd

Little Bus

Chris Reid / Andrew Clarke

2nd

Hey Charger!

Nick Bernard (V) / Billy Lusty

3rd

C-Tech White

Alex Vallings / Fraser Brown

3rd

Ghetto Sled

Richard Billet / Ben Cross

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