Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

NSW 18ft Skiff Championship - Race 1 to Gotta Love It 7

by Frank Quealey on 12 Nov 2012
Closer view of skiff racing. Frank Quealey /Australian 18 Footers League http://www.18footers.com.au
Pre-race favourite Gotta Love It 7 took out Race 1 of the NSW 18ft Skiff Championship by 1m58s on Sydney Harbour today, but the win was far from as easy as the margin suggests.

The Gotta Love It 7 team of Seve Jarvin, Scott Babbage and Peter Harris took full advantage of a mark rounding error by Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (Michael Coxon) to grab victory only in the final stages of the race. Second placed today was Pure Blonde (Tom Clout, Matt Wark and Rob Bell), with Appliancesonline.com.au (Micah Lane, Paul Montague and Tom Anderson) a further 22s back in third place. John Winning’s Yandoo was fourth, followed by Rabbitohs-Kenwood (Brett Van Munster) and Asko Appliances (Marcus Ashley-Jones) in sixth place.

Results are provisional at this time as Pure Blonde has lodged a protest against Gotta Love It 7 for a breach of the port and starboard rule.


The race was sailed in a typical light Easterly breeze which varied in strength and direction throughout the course.

Pure Blonde won the start at the boat end of the line but Thurlow Fisher Lawyers was soon challenging for the lead as the fleet headed for the first windward mark in Rose Bay.

Thurlow Fisher Lawyers crew work was excellent as they picked the shifts to lead Appliancesonline.com.au by 10s as spinnakers were set for the run to the wing mark off Clarke Island.

Yandoo was another 10s behind Appliancesonline, with Mojo Wine (James Dorron), Rabbitohs-Kenwood (Brett Van Munster) and Coopers-Rag and Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney) heading the rest of the fleet.

It was all Thurlow Fisher Lawyers on the spinnaker legs back to the bottom mark off Kurraba Point where her lead had extended well beyond one minute.

There was some confusion in the crew on which way to round the mark and it took two attempts for them to make sure. A lack of wind affected the chasers as several skiffs began to bunch up behind Thurlow Fisher. Mojo Wine finally moved into second position to start the next windward leg, ahead of Appliancesonline, Yandoo, Pure Blonde, Kenwood-Rabbitohs, Asko Appliances, Coopers-Rag and Famish Hotel and Gotta Love It 7.


In the variable conditions, there was a wide spread of the fleet across the harbour as the fleet made its way back into Rose Bay. Conditions took a toll on several teams while others benefitted from taking the correct course.

It made little difference to Thurlow Fisher Lawyers as she continued to set the pace from Pure Blonde, Appliancesonline, Gotta Love It 7, Coopers-Rag and Famish Hotel, Smeg (Nick Press) and Asko Appliances.

The leading group opted for a variety of courses downwind and Thurlow Fisher Lawyers approached the bottom mark in a seemingly winning position.

To the amazement of spectators, the Thurlow Fisher crew incorrectly went around the mark on a port tack. By the time the crew realized that, it was too late and Thurlow Fisher elected to retire. The Gotta Love It 7 crew took full advantage of the Thurlow Fisher error and sailed superbly over the concluding two legs of the course for an ultimately easy win.

There were many close finishes amongst the top 10 skiffs as the breeze freshened a little.

Race 5 of the AEG 3-Buoys Challenge will be sailed next Sunday with the Spectator Ferry leaving Double Bay Public Wharf at 2.15pm.







 

Finish

Placings

 

Recall #

 

Boat Name

Finish

Time

Elapsed

Time

 

Handicap

Corrected

Time

H/Cap

Position

1

7

Gotta Love It 7

16:01:03

1:26:03

0

1:26:03

8

2

9

Pure Blonde

16:03:01

1:28:01

7

1:21:01

1

3

5

Appliancesonline.Com.Au

16:03:23

1:28:23

3

1:25:23

7

4

2

Yandoo

16:03:26

1:28:26

6

1:22:26

2

5

13

Rabbitohs-Kenwood

16:06:36

1:31:36

5

1:26:36

9

6

3

Asko Appliances

16:06:48

1:31:48

9

1:22:48

3

7

14

The Kitchen Maker

16:06:49

1:31:49

8

1:23:49

4

8

6

Rag & Famish Hotel-Coopers

16:07:32

1:32:32

5

1:27:32

12

9

8

Smeg

16:08:13

1:33:13

5

1:28:13

13

10

11

Mojo Wine

16:08:18

1:33:18

6

1:27:18

11

11

10

Fisher & Paykel

16:09:31

1:34:31

10

1:24:31

5

12

4

Delonghi-Rabbitohs

16:10:00

1:35:00

10

1:25:00

6

13

17

Haier Appliances

16:12:12

1:37:12

10

1:27:12

10

14

12

Lumix

16:15:50

1:40:50

6

1:34:50

14

15

19

Team Southern Cross

16:22:02

1:47:02

10

1:37:02

15

16

18

Lomax Financial Group

16:26:13

1:51:13

10

1:41:13

16

17

 

 

 

 

 

 

17

18

 

 

 

 

 

 

18

19

 

 

 

 

 

 

19

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

23

24

 

 

 

 

 

 

24

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

25

26

 

 

 

 

 

 

26

27

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

28

29

 

 

 

 

 

 

29

30

 

 

 

 

 

 

30

 

 

Ella Bache

 

 

 

 

31

 

Non Starters

Non Finishers

 

Thurlow Fisher

 

Team Daly

 

Southern Cross Engineering

 

 

 

 

Comments:

Sailing Time:  1:26:03

Fastest Time:  Gotta Love It 7

Margins:  1st - 2nd  0:01:58

2nd - 3rd  0:00:22

At this stage of the season all skiffs must display on the

Mainsail, a sponsors logo, colour patch as described in the class rules or a 450mm high recall number as per the sailing instructions. For example Team Daly is Recall no 15. Any of these 3 aternatives is OK.

Austrailian 18 Footers League website
Excess CatamaransCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERJeanneau Sun Odyssey 350

Related Articles

18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona day 1
Opening victories and nautical splendor This week, Barcelona once again takes center stage in the world of classic sailing as the 18th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica gets under way. The opening day delivered ideal conditions for a spectacular display on the water.
Posted today at 12:28 pm
Rolex Fastnet Race: IRC Two Preview
With 73 entries in IRC Two, the Rolex Fastnet Race is set to deliver a striking display. Could two new JPK 1050s upset the apple cart in IRC Two? Jean-Pierre Kelbert has a habit of breaking the mould in IRC racing, and his new 34-footer may well be a game changer in this competitive division with 73 entries.
Posted today at 10:36 am
The Long Laser Lunch – a reunion to remember
Sailors from every state reunited over lunch like it was just another regatta weekend. Last month 93 Laser sailors from across the country gathered at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club for what became a truly unforgettable reunion.
Posted today at 10:19 am
Offshore at 16
Will Farnell, the ORCV's Youth Sailor of the Year 2025 The ORCV is proud to announce Will Farnell as the recipient of the 2025 Youth Sailor of the Year award—a young sailor whose love for the sea runs generations deep and whose commitment to the sport has already made waves far beyond his years.
Posted today at 8:52 am
Seldén Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang
Specifically sized for yachts between 50 and 55 feet A Rodkicker rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing and allows for greater sail trim control.
Posted today at 8:00 am
WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history.
Posted today at 7:23 am
Queensland Yachting Survey 2025 Feedback
The results are in, gathering valuable insights directly from the sailing community Following this year's Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, a group of passionate and experienced individuals from the sailing community gathered to discuss the current state of yachting in Queensland.
Posted today at 5:18 am
Transpac 2025 Update: Moon River Tonight!
The magic of offshore racing in the 2025 Transpac A vast ocean separates Los Angeles, California, from Honolulu, Hawaii, but the boats racing in this year's Transpac have now crossed the halfway mark. Race leaders are in the tradewinds and making their approach to the Aloha State.
Posted today at 12:26 am
All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around.
Posted on 10 Jul
British Classic Week day 4
It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for the OneSails inshore race It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for day 4 of British Classic Week with hot temperatures, sunshine and no breeze in the morning before the sea breeze kicked in from the west and it was time to go racing.
Posted on 10 Jul