NSW 12ft Skiff State Championship - Garde seizes overall crown

by Nick Press on 15 Dec 2012 Garde (Brett Hobson and Brad Phillips) took out the NSW 12dt Skiff State championships on Sunday, winning heat 5 and not needing to sail heat 6. Heat 5 was delayed on shore for 40 minutes to let the 30-40knot southerly settle in. Garde lead up the first work and mark rounding, closely followed by Lincoln Crowne (Jono Temple and Richard Jones) and Gemmell Sails (Murray Press and Scott Lanham).

Both the latter skiffs came to grief on the downwind leg, allowing Garde to get away, and Geotherm to come through to second place.

Arrogant Frog sailed a great race to finish third, pressuring for second place midway around the track.

Lincoln Crowne chased hard on the last leg and gained on Arrogant Frog, but remained in fourth place.

Gemmell Sails retired after breaking both tiller extensions and both crew members.

Only five boats made it to the start of heat 6, with the breeze kicking in again. Lincoln Crowne led the charge up the first work, from Gemmell Sail with stand in Skipper and Crew (Nick Press and Dan Phillips). Most skiffs capsized once or twice on the work in the strong gusts.


Variety (Adam Forbes and Richie Johns) were running in third place before coming unstuck on a jibe leading out of the bay.

Geotherm and Hey Charger were both forced to down spinnakers to get around Cabaritta Marine and lost time on the leaders.

The course was shortened at the next mark, with instructions to proceed to the finish.

Gemmell Sails snuck thru Lincoln Crowne on the leg to the finish to steel the victory.

Geotherm picked up a third to cap off a great series (and won the handicap), Hey Charger fourth and Variety fifth.