Sydney Sailmakers crowned NSW 12ft Skiff Champions

by Murray Press on 6 Dec 2016 The ‘Sydney Sailmakers’ NSW 12 skiff championships was the most hotly contested 12ft Skiff championship in recent history. The regatta saw four different winners from the six races and the regatta only decided on a dramatic final run to the finish, with Sydney Sailmakers (Nicholas Press and Andrew Hay) taking the race win and the championship by the narrowest of margins.

20 Skiffs participate in the regatta with the Sydney Flying Squadron hosting races one, two and three and Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club races four, five and six.

Saturday’s race four saw the fleet plug in the one rigs to contest Lane Cove’s tricky Easter course in around 10-12knots of breeze. The racing was tight throughout the fleet with Sydney Sailmakers and Geotherm (Brett Hobson and Billy Lusty) locked in a tight battle for most of the race with Sydney Sailmakers only extending the lead in the closing stages. LCC (Jonathon Temple and Richard Jones) showed good speed with their new one rig to grab second spot from Geotherm on the perilous leg through humbug to the finish! Terms and Conditions (Brad Phillips and Tim Barraclough) has another strong showing in fourth to follow up their race two victory, defiantly a skiff to watch at the upcoming Interdominion Contest.

Sunday’s race five had a gusty second Sail Nor’easter for the skiffs to deal with. The pressure was on with only three points separating the top three Skiffs. Race five saw Sydney Sailmakers lead to the top mark once again locked in a tight dual with Geotherm closely followed by Terms and Conditions, LLC, Maersk and Gizmo (James Birdsall and Ewan Duckworth). After rounding the wing mark Sydney Sailmakers hit the drink whilst trying to flog the kite around Clarkes point handing Geotherm a comfortable lead. Both LCC and Terms and Conditions failed to learn from Sydney Sailing makers mistake and followed suit in testing the water temperature. Sydney Sailmakers recovered to finish a distance second with Bigfoot in third and a fast finishing Maersk (Adam Forbes and Alex Johnson) in fourth with Hey Charger (Nick Bernard and Oscar Wilson) in an impressive fifth place.

Race six and the breeze had built into a solid second sail Bigfoot and Sydney Sailmakers won the start to lead around the top mark with Geotherm right on their hammer. The three skiffs crossing tacks and gybes the whole way around the course with lead changes a plenty. Geotherm led at the last bottom mark followed by Sydney Sailmakers then Bigfoot. Geotherm and Sydney Sailmakers embarked in a match race up the final windward leg allowing Bigfoot to sail around them both and into a narrow lead at the top mark, with only one boat length separating the three skiffs.

Geotherm held the high lane with Sydney Sailmakers tucked in just below them when a motor boat split the duelling skiffs, which saw Geotherm in the tide after getting an inopportune gust trying to rage over the top the expensive looking power boat. This left Bigfoot (Murray Press and Scott Lanham) and Sydney Sailmakers (Nicholas Press and Andrew Hay) in a gybing dual to the finish with Sydney Sailmakers picking the angle through the line to claim the race win and the Championship.

The recently revamped Hey Charger ‘Nick Bernard and Oscar Wilson’ sailed brilliantly to claim the well-deserved Handicap Trophy after a huge winter maintenance and sail-wardrobe upgrade 10 years in the making. The ever-green Murray Press on Bigfoot taking home the veterans trophy and also ensured the battle for the Championship was more than a two-boat shot out.

The State titles also served as the Australian team trials for the upcoming 12ft Skiff Interdominon’s in Brisbane (7th – 14th January). With the edition of new skiffs, plenty of new gear, some new faces and tight racing the class is looking strong and healthy. To get involved visit wensite or follow us on Facebook ‘Australian 12ft Skiffs’.

Top Five Scratch Results:

1. Sydney Sailmaker – Nicholas Press and Andrew Hay (9)
2. Geotherm – Brett Hobson and Billy Lusty (10)
3. Bigfoot Custom Trapeze Harnesses – Murray Press and Scott Lanham (13)
4. LCC Asia Pacific – Jonathon Temple and Richard Jones (20)
5. Terms and Conditions – Brad Phillips and Tim Barraclough (22)

Top Five Handicap Results

1. Hey Charger - Nicholas Bernard and Oscar Wilson
2. Bigfoot Custom Trapeze Harnesses – Murray Press and Scott Lanham
3. Your Move Conveyancing – David Winning and Geoff Little
4. Citadel Magnus – Martin Dobell and Ian Terley
5. LCC Asia Pacific – Jonathon Temple and Richard Jones