Mighty River 12 Foot Skiff Nationals- Big fleet beat Pam at Taupo

by Tim Bartlett on 19 Mar 2015 The 2015 12' skiff Nationals were held during the Mighty River Power Regatta on Lake Taupo. Fourteen skiffs faced the starter in light big rig conditions on Saturday and the Race Officer wisely ran five races in case Cyclone Pam turned up to play on Sunday.

Racing was tight and it was soon evident that those who had sailed the most together this season were always near the front. Simon Ganley and Ollie Scott-Mackie in Ugly Stick established a firm grip on the trophy with four wins and a third with the minor placings being shared around. There were bursts of speed from some of the new combinations - notably Thomas Olds/Tim Snedden in The Reverend Roakes boat, and Tim Coltman/Adam Middleton in the ex R class Subwoofer, having its first outing with an eight metre mast.

However good bursts are, consistency wins the day and at the end of Saturday the order was Ugly Stick, Pitching Wedge Tim Bartlett/Luke Stevenson, then One and In sailed by Ben de Fluiter and G Unit.

The fear of Pam was a factor in rig selection on Sunday morning and, every time a wee gust went through the park, another #2 rig was bolted in so that only two big rigs made it to the start line. One was a boat hastily renamed PAM in defiance of the weather gods and Russell Davis/David Hazard sailed her well to mow the fleet down on the first run and went on to take the race comfortably. The other big rig equipped boat was last seen searching for prawns just after the windward mark - none found unfortunately but the water was lovely.

Race seven was a longer affair with an extra loop as it was to be the last of the day. #2 rigs dominated in the shifty and puffy conditions and a battle royal developed between One and In and It's Not OK sailed by Jono Clough and Marcus Hansen with Jono steering his skiff to a narrow win and a very satisfied grin on his face for the rest of the day.

 Results:

Rank	Boat	Sail	Club	Helm	Crew1	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	Total	Nett
1st	12 Foot Skiff	30	ASC	Simon Ganley	Oliver Scott-Mackie	1	1	1	1	3	4	-7	18	11
2nd	12 Foot Skiff	36	ASC	Ben Defluiter	Matt Kelway	-6	2	5	4	2	3	2	24	18
3rd	12 Foot Skiff	Large lime green F	ASC	Tim Bartlett	Luke Stevenson	4	4	3	3	1	-7	4	26	19
4th	12 Foot Skiff	595	MYC/WBBC	Roger Barnes	Graham Roberts	-7	3	2	6	4	2	5	29	22
5th	12 Foot Skiff	56	ASC	Jono Clough	Marcus Hansen	2	7	4	(14.0 DNF)	5	5	1	38	24
6th	12 Foot Skiff	CCC	ASC	Russell Davis	David Hazard	8	9	-10	2	6	1	3	39	29
7th	12 Foot Skiff	C Tech	WBBC	Scotty Barnes	Josh Porebski	3	-10	6	5	8	9	6	47	37
8th	12 Foot Skiff	44	RNZYS/BOISC	Andrew Clarke	Michael Boucher	5	5	7	7	7	6	-8	45	37
9th	12 Foot Skiff	Barfoot and Thompson	ASC	Thomas Olds	Tim Snedden	9	6	8	(14.0 DNC)	14.0 DNC	8	9	68	54
10th	12 Foot Skiff	40	ASC	Michael Rhodes	Rhys Garton	10	(14.0 DNF)	9	8	14.0 DNC	10	10	75	61
11th	12 Foot Skiff	A	WBBC	Tim Coltman	Adam Middleton	11	8	(14.0 DNC)	14.0 DNC	14.0 DNC	11	14.0 DNF	86	72
12th	12 Foot Skiff	8	ASC	Harry Thurston	William Tiller	(14.0 DNF)	14.0 DNC	14.0 DNC	14.0 DNC	14.0 DNC	14.0 DNC	14.0 DNC	98	84
12th	12 Foot Skiff	66	ASC	William Wright	Russell Wilson	(14.0 DNF)	14.0 DNC	14.0 DNC	14.0 DNC	14.0 DNC	14.0 DNC	14.0 DNC	98	84