Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

18ft Skiff International Regatta - Aussies show their Winning ways

by Rich Roberts on 23 Aug 2010
18ft Skiffs International Regatta, San Francisco Chris Ray http://www.printroom.com/pro/crayivp

18ft Skiff International Regatta Day 1, San Francisco.

Observing the sailing rivalry between the Winnings, father and son, on opening day of the ninth annual 18ft Skiff International Regatta, one could conclude it's intense, but it doesn’t stop there.


John Sr.---or, as he prefers, Woody, 58---has a conventional and successful household appliance business in Australia, while John Jr., 24, or Herman, as he prefers---recently was recognized Down Under as 'online retailer of the year,' selling similar white goods on the Internet instead of in stores.

'The same as my dad except a newer way,' he said.

Well, Herman, with veterans Peter Harris and Euan McNicol as crew, also showed his dad and everyone else the way by winning the first two of 10 races, although his elder was not too far behind in third and second place, with defending champion Howie Hamlin of Long Beach, Calif. (2-4) another point back in third among 13 entries.

As an arriving high-pressure system turned the weather up from chilling to merely refreshing, the wind was only 15 knots---modest for San Francisco Bay---and the gloomy forecast for Monday was for sunshine and a high temperature of 78 degrees F. as the local summer set in following a cooler than usual season.

But the sailing was close, with few flips. Even the rookie all-woman team stayed upright, although skipper Mallory McCollum said, 'We didn't finish either race, but it's still a learning process for us. We just tried to stay out of the way. We had a great time … and we didn't flip.'

Even Australia's Michael Coxon and his all-star crew of Aaron Links and Trent Barnabas with multiple JJ Giltinan world championships among them couldn't say that. Their hard luck was to capsize while running third in the first race, finishing eighth before recovering with a third place in the second race.

And, by the way, that team is from Australia, not New Zealand, as misstated in an earlier report.

Sailing a 1 1/2-mile windward-leeward course fronting the host St. Francis Yacht Club between the Golden Gate Bridge and the city front, Herman Winning stole the first race at the gun by boldly crossing the fleet of a dozen other boats on no-rights-at-all port tack. The pin (left) end of the line was favored by just a few feet, but the point was to gain a straight shot to the best wind on the right side of the course, while everyone else had to tack when they could to get there.

It also helped that the rivals were less than aggressive in their approach to the start line.

'You want to be on port tack,' McNicol said, 'and the fleet was generous.'

The win was a runaway, while Hamlin overtook Woody Winning with a starboard vs. port cross a boat length from the upwind finish to seize second place in a beep-beep signal by the horn.

Herman Winning said, 'We were conservative when we could be,' covering the competition.

And by the way, Herman is only John Jr.'s nickname.

His dad explained, 'I gave that to him when he was two years old. He kind of waddled when he walked, like Herman Munster.'

In the second race Woody repeated Herman's tactic by crossing the fleet on port tack, although he couldn't hold off the kid for long. The race was scheduled for three laps, but as the one-hour time limit approached it was cut short to two with a downwind finish.

Racing is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. daily, except Wednesday when the 18s will start at 5 to precede the Bridge to Bridge race for a mixed fleet 18s, sailboards and kite boards.





Current leaders
(13 boats; after 2 of 10 races

1. Appliances Online, Herman Winning/Peter Harris/Euan McNicol, Australia, 1-1, 2 points.
2. Yandoo, John (Woody) Winning/David Gibson/Andrew Hay, Australia, 3-2, 5.
3. CST Composites, Howard Hamlin/Matt Noble/Fritz Lanzinger, USA, 2-4, 6.
4. CT Sailbattens, CT Sailbattens, Alex Vallings/Chris Kitchen/Josh McCormack, New Zealand, 4-5, 9.
5. Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, Michael Coxon/Aaron Links/Trevor Barnabas, Australia, 8-3, 11.
6. Panasonic, Jonathan Whitty/James Hozack/Tom Anderson, Australia, 7-6, 13.
7. JF Hellebrand, Phil Airey/Murray England/Sam Tretheway, New Zealand, 6-7, 13.

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
Selden 2020 - FOOTERZhik 2024 DecemberPredictWind - GPS 728x90 BOTTOM

Related Articles

Sailing's Glitterati prepare for the Admiral's Cup
The depth and quality of talent is truly breathtaking. The 2025 Admiral's Cup is shaping up to be one of the most compelling editions in the event's storied history, featuring a glittering constellation of the sport's elite.
Posted today at 9:55 am
British Dragon South West Championship
A spectacular warm-up for the 2025 Edinburgh Cup Torquay delivered a spectacular warm-up for the 2025 Edinburgh Cup, as 13 Dragon teams took to the waters of Tor Bay for the South West Championship, a two-day regatta packed with shifting breezes, tactical gambles, and top-class racing.
Posted today at 8:59 am
Foiling Sport Congress gathers global players
To shape the Future of Foiling Last week, Malcesine hosted the first-ever Foiling Sport Congress — a by-invitation event organised to foster an in-depth discussion on the current state and future developments of foiling across all disciplines.
Posted today at 5:59 am
Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 3
The best female wave sailors in the world showcase their skills on the global stage After the men had taken centre stage for the opening two days of the 2025 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup, today was the day for the best female wave sailors in the world to showcase their skills on the global stage.
Posted today at 4:11 am
Transpac Onboard Episode 4
Anything Can Happen at Sea All Transpac 2025 competitors are now at sea and actively racing to Hawaii. We take a look at the Pasha Live Race Tracker and talk about the significant wind hole confronting a contingent of competitors.
Posted today at 3:06 am
Stops & re-starts in first two legs of AEGEAN 600
A tough first night and early morning spent fighting zephyrs getting through the Cyclades After a beautiful breezy start yesterday, but a tough first night and early morning spent fighting zephyrs getting through the Cyclades, at the end of today's daylight the AEGEAN 600 fleet is back on the move.
Posted on 7 Jul
Marblehead to Halifax Race Update
The front-runners are pushing hard toward the finish After nearly 24 hours at sea, the front-runners of the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race are pushing hard toward the finish. Temptation/Oakcliff leads the fleet in both elapsed and corrected time, with Boudicca – Gill Race Team close behind.
Posted on 7 Jul
British Classic Week Day 1
Northerly winds gusting 22 knots make for a brisk start Day one at British Classic Week in Cowes saw fast-paced racing around the cans sponsored by Spirit Yachts for over 50 classic and modern classic yachts.
Posted on 7 Jul
International Moth Worlds Opening Ceremony
137 sailors from 25 nations have gathered, featuring some of the biggest names in sailing After weeks of preparation and an intense lead-up, the 2025 Moth World Championship is ready to get under way. Official racing begins tomorrow, 8 July, on the waters of Lake Garda, with the event hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine.
Posted on 7 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 2
No racing, but spirits stay high in Aarhus Day 2 of the iQFOiL World Championship in Aarhus tested the patience of sailors, coaches, and the Race Committee alike, as the wind refused to settle across the bay.
Posted on 7 Jul