13ft Skiff Nationals 2013 - Young guns rule in Manly

by Sally Waterhouse on 30 Jan 2013 The Australian 13ft Skiff Championships 2013 was sailed from Manly between 11th to 19th January 2013. The series saw a real mix of breezes and conditions from a fresh 15-28 knot south-east breeze in race one to a fluctuating four to 14 knot north-easter in race six.

The 13ft Skiff, quietly growing in popularity boasted a quality fleet with three members of the recently announced Australian Youth Team taking out the first two places.

The series was won quite convincingly by LED Innovations sailed by Felix Grech and Paul Darmanin from the Manly Club on 11 points. With their placings of 2-4-1-1-1-2-5, they did not need to sail the final race. Runner-up was 'Holey Dollar Rum' sailed by Annalise Gilbert and Angus Williams from the Manly Club with 16 points (DNF-2-4-3-3-3-1). Third overall went to www sheads.com sailed by Harry West and Tom Potter from the Middle Harbour Club on 18 points (1-1-3-6-5-4-4). They had lead the series early, but were unable to repeat those early successes.

Overall handicap winner for the series was ExhibitionCo sailed by brothers Finn and Angus Buick from the Manly Club on 29 points (7-2-DNF-3-4-6-7) from Number Seven sailed by sisters Georgia and Alanna Clancy from the Manly Club on 33 points (4-12-4-5-5-10-5).

Race seven was sailed in a relatively steady 13-18 knot South-East breeze. Holey Dollar Rum forged to an early lead and were never headed to win by two minutes and 15 seconds from Number Seven with a further one minute to Confusion (Massimo Belgiorno-Nettis). Handicap honours went to South Coast Engineering (Ashley Heyworth) from the Manly Club with Live Wire (Alice Walker) finishing second.

Top-10 finishers of Australian 13ft Skiff Championships 2013 (Final Result after seven races)

1.)Led Innovations (16 points)
2.)Holey Dollar Rum (33 points)
3.)Sheads.com (24 points)
4.)Number Seven (30 points)
5.)Confusion (42 points)
6.)Bridgestone B Select (50 points)
7.)Namotu Island Fiji (44 points)[points with one drop – 33 points]
8.)Bigfoot Bags and Covers (66 points)
9.)ExhibitionCo (71 points)
10)Holmes Marine (76 points)

Top-10 handicap finishers of Australian 13ft Skiff Championships 2013 (Final Result after seven races)

1.)ExhibitionCo (46 points)
2.)Confusion (45 points)
3.)Number Seven (45 points)
4.)Led Innovations (49 points)
5.)Number Eight (58 points)
6.)Holmes Marine (58 points)
7.)Namotu Island Fuji (58 points)
8.)Holey Dollar Rum (59 points)
9.)Bigfoot Bags and Covers (55 points)
10)Bridgestone B Select (65 points)