Big fleet expected for Interdominion 12’ Skiffs

by Robyn Valentine, Yachting NSW & Sail-World NZL on 20 Dec 2005 The top performers in the Australian 12 foot skiff squad will be travelling to Auckland Sailing Club to contest the acclaimed 46th Interdominion 12 Foot Skiff Championship, held over January 6 – 14, 2006.

The Interdominion Championship is the pinnacle event on the 12 foot calendar, and is held alternatively in Australia and New Zealand each January, running since 1956.

Based on a ten-heat series plus an Invitation race, this year’s event will be particularly exciting, celebrating 50 years of Trans-Tasman rivalry.

While the Australians expect a squad of approx. 30 skiffs will meet on Auckland Harbour, the locals expect the fleet to climb higher to that to a fleet of 35 boats. The New Zealand team has been previously announced, and there will be representatives from Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington to battle the best of the Australian team, a side made up of the top 12 qualifying boats from NSW and Queensland.

Historically a regatta that was dominated by Australia, the 1990’s saw a major shift to New Zealand, who have won the series 11 of 15 times since, as well as the highly acclaimed John Brooke Teams Trophy.

This upcoming regatta looks to be the toughest competition yet, with the Kiwis intent on recapturing the Silasec Trophy and taking the top places, which were convincingly won in Sydney last year by the Australians.

The Aussie side will be led by 2005 Interdominion winners Yabba Dabba, and strengthened by 2004/5 NSW Champions and 2005 Interdominion runners-up P&O Nedlloyd, 2005 Australian Champion and 3rd place Interdominion Gizmo, and Parramatta River champions Gemmell Sails.


The Australian Representative Team:

Yabba Dabba Nick Press & Brad Yabsley
Gemmell Sails Murray Press & Ben Gemmell
P & O Nedlloyd Jonathan Temple & Richard Jones
Garde Brett Hobson & Alex Johnson
Gizmo Michael Bochner & Cameron McDonald
Acer Matthew Killoran & Richard Johns
Geotherm Scott Hobson & Brad Phillips
Vantage Real Estate Jack Winning & Brett Phillips
Datacall Andrew Stevenson & Brad Greenrod
Kiroshi Bill Olsen & Jamie McCrudden
Road Kill Ed Cox & Duncan Rae
Eastcoast Geotechnical Paul O’Malley-Jones & Paul Gleeson

Reserves:
Havoc James Francis & Rob Bell
The Boat and Yacht Store Gladesville Matt Peat & Grant Nicholson
Flying Animals James Fleming & Richard Billet

Brett Hobson, President, NSW 12 Foot Skiff Association, can’t wait to get to Auckland, ‘The Australian team is in top form and the Inters are a fantastic event. Obviously we are all keen to perform well and to ensure the trophy remains in Australia – the racing will be hard and fast. The regatta is also a great social event and we have a lot of fun’.

The event and daily results can be followed at www.skiff.org.au and on www.Sail-World.com., together with the full listing of the 12’s programme.