12 Foot Skiff - Why not give it a go?
by Murray Press 25 May 2021 14:19 PDT
12 Foot Skiff © Delma Gilmour
Campaigning a 12 is about fun on & off the water. You can develop a range of skills, including boat handling, tuning, boat maintenance, organisation and training.
With the continued equipment developments, and the introduction of carbon masts, 12's are very manageable boats and any sailor with skiff experience, would quite easily adapt. Key boat facts include:
- Speeds of up to 25 knots reached
- Crewed by two people, both on trapeze (Teenagers to seniors)
- Light weight 45 kilogram hull
- Three complete rigs (small, medium, large)
- Each skiff is individual, not an off the shelf product
- Simple measurement rules allow design development
- Rig size and design is unrestricted
- The asymmetrical spinnaker is set off a fixed bowsprit
Club racing in Sydney can be Saturday (Lane Cove or Abbotsford) or Sunday (Sydney Flying Squadron). State Titles are held each season as are Australian titles which include the fleets from NSW & QLD. A major Interdominion championship is held every year, rotating between New Zealand, QLD & NSW. The last championship held in Sydney attracted 30+ entries.
The NSW 12 Foot Skiff Association can help match skippers & crews with good 2nd hand boats. They can also help place interested crews with skippers currently ready to go but looking for crew.
For more information email at or visit Facebook and Instagram.