Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Sydney Sailmakers Press and Hay take out 12ft Skiff Sprint Series

by Nick Press on 8 Feb 2017
Start - 12ft Skiff Sprint Series Vita Williams
The 12ft Skiff fleet turned out to compete for the 12ft Sprint Series Championship hosted by Abbotsford 12ft Flying Squadron, the first real hit out for most Skiffs since the Interdominion. The +35-degree day resembling the Brisbane rigging park with even a few XXXX’s drunk to really get the QLD vibe happening.



Big rigs were the order of the day as a light North Easter filtered down the Parramatta river, Geotherm (Brett Hobson/Bill Lusty) and Lincoln Crowne (Jonathon Temple/Richard Jones) won the first start. The tight river course means plenty of close calls and tacks to the top mark. Geotherm held a narrow lead over Sydney Sailmakers (Nick Press and Andrew ‘Noddy’ Hay) with Lincoln Crowne in third. Sydney Sailmakers gybed inside Geotherm at the top mark to grab the lead down the run and maintained the lead throughout the race.



Lincoln Crown and Geotherm locked into a battle for second position for the rest of the race with Geotherm only re gaining the second spot on the last tack to the finish. Bigfoot Foot Custom Trapeze Harnesses (Murray Press/Macca Patton) held off a fast finishing Chapman High Performance Sailing (Jack Winning/Brett Phillips) for fourth place.

Race two goes underway with the breeze having built slightly to make it a very comfortably big sail. Bigfoot and Havoc (Ben Faulkner/Renn Holland) got the best of the start racing toward the river club. Sydney Sailmakers fought hard with Geotherm up the first work to pull in the leading skiffs and lead around the top mark. Once the kites were set Sydney Sailmakers extended the lead as the fleet fought for the podium positions.



Havoc showing good speed with the big sails until a broken backstay ended the day early for them. Bigfoot Foot Custom Trapeze Harnesses, Geotherm and Lincoln Crowne crossed tacks and gybes entire way around the course. This time Lincoln Crowne coming out on top in the battle with Geotherm and showing excellent speed with their new big mainsail. Slippery When Wet (John Williams/ Zac Tatum) coming home in a solid sixth position is also showing good improvement having their first season together.



Marty and Ian showed of their new purchase (Hempel) in the park but couldn’t connect the dots in time to make the race. They should be hitting the water in the next few weeks.

The next event on the ‘12s’ calendar is the Port Jackson Championship, to be hosted by Sydney Flying Squadron on Sunday, 19th March. With the Australian Championships hosted by Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club to follow over the Easter weekend, April 14th.



Top Five Scratch Results:
1. Sydney Sailmakers (Nick Press/Andrew Hay)
2=. Geotherm (Brett Hobson/Bill Lusty)
2=. Lincoln Crowne (Jonathon Temple/Richard Jones)
4. Bigfoot Foot Custom Trapeze Harnesses (Andrew Stevenson/Macca Patton)
5. Chapman High Performance Sailing (Jack Winning/Brett Phillips)

Rolly Tasker Sails 2023 FOOTERExcess CatamaransRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTER

Related Articles

Team Malizia starts Course Des Caps
Challenging race around the British Isles Team Malizia set sail today from Boulogne-sur-Mer, kicking off the inaugural Course des Caps race in light winds and challenging conditions with a solid start.
Posted on 29 Jun
Holcim-PRB set off on the Course des Caps
With Nicolas Lunven, Franck Cammas, Annemieke Bes, Alan Roberts, and onboard reporter Anne Beauge Today at 2:00 PM (French time), the IMOCA Holcim-PRB set off on the Course des Caps Boulogne sur Mer - Banque Populaire du Nord, a challenging route of over 2,000 nautical miles around the British Isles.
Posted on 29 Jun
America's Cup: Confidential settlement reached
(Updated) A confidential settlement reached over five year Cup legal claims. Confidential settlement reached between the America's Cup team Emirates Team New Zealand and their formerly contracted Event Managers, Mayo & Calder, and others associated with the company. But what of Mainstream Media's role in the affair?
Posted on 29 Jun
J/70 Mixed-Plus Worlds at Lake Garda Overall
Winners crowned at inaugural event, hosted by Circolo Vela Torbole It's hard to imagine a better debut for the inaugural J/70 Mixed-Plus World Championship, held in the iconic sailing venue of Torbole on Lake Garda in Italy.
Posted on 29 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 10
Seven nations celebrate victories at the finale On the final sailing day of Kieler Woche 2025, there were beaming faces all around the Olympic Centre in Schilksee. Eleven decisions were made on Sunday and alongside Germany, Denmark, France, GB, Malta, Sweden, & Hungary were able to celebrate victories.
Posted on 29 Jun
Dan Turner prepares for Mini Globe Race 2025 Leg 3
Sailing aboard his homebuilt yacht, Immortal Game, Dan has navigated treacherous ocean conditions South Australian sailor Dan Turner finished in 2nd place and is now preparing to embark on the third leg of the Mini Globe Race 2025 — a gruelling solo circumnavigation challenge for sailors in compact 5.8-metre yachts.
Posted on 29 Jun
SGS Gold at Kieler Woche goes to France and GB
The best German team, Theresa Löffler and Christopher Hoerr, finished fifth With a victory in the final medal race of the Kieler Woche, the British team of Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris secured gold in the 470 class on Sunday (June 29).
Posted on 29 Jun
Reach Your Sailing Potential Today
Elevate Every Outing with North Sails EDGE is the addition to the 3Di ENDURANCE family. Designed for crossover sailors, ENDURANCE EDGE is as ready for regattas as it is for day sailing.
Posted on 29 Jun
From ORC to DH: The XR 41 Delivers Again
All eyes were on the new XR 41 during the Maior Regatta in Kiel All eyes were on the new XR 41 during the Maior Regatta in Kiel, where she convincingly won under ORC. The boat has proven her versatility by taking on Denmark's Fyn Cup — and winning again.
Posted on 29 Jun
Introduction to the Admiral's Cup/Fastnet 2025
After a 22 year abscence, the renowned Admiral's Cup is back. After a break of 22 years, the renowned Admiral's Cup is returning to the international yacht racing scene in July 2025. One short ocean race, three days of inshore racing, and then the fabled Fastnet to finish
Posted on 29 Jun