Please select your home edition
Edition
Sydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to Exhibit

NSW 18ft Skiff Championship back on Sydney Harbour this Sunday

by Frank Quealey 11 Jan 2023 17:06 AEDT 14 January 2023

The incredible story of John 'Woody' Winning and his son John 'Herman' Winning Jr. continues on Sydney Harbour this Sunday when the two skippers lead their teams in the quest to win the 2022-23 NSW 18ft Skiff Championship.

'Herman' (Andoo) with two wins from the three races sailed so far holds a narrow lead over 'Woody' (Yandoo), whose team has had best results of one win and a second placing.

With just two races still to be sailed, on January 15 and 22, and each team allowed to discard its worst race placing from the five-race championship, Sunday's result will be critical towards the overall winner.

That a father and son are competing against each other at the top of the points table in such a demanding, high speed class as the 18 footers is rare, but their story has an even greater twist.

Only two weeks ago 'Herman' and 'Woody', together with Andoo's two other 18ft skiff crew members, Seve Jarvin and Sam Newton, raced together on AndooComanche and took Line Honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2022.

The 70-year-old 'Woody' was obviously thrilled to be part of AndooComanche's Line Honours victory with his son, but is a real pro when it comes to competing in the 18s.

He quickly reminds everyone, "We are in the middle of a major 18 footer championship and my focus is entirely on trying to beat every other team in the event."

"I'm sure every other team has the same attitude and I can't be thinking about friendships or past teammates."

While the strong Andoo team retains favouritism to take the NSW Championship, Yandoo's boat speed has been impressive and the team work faultless under pressure.

The early weather forecast indicates similar conditions to those in Races 2 and 3 which produced such a close contest between Andoo and Yandoo.

The battle behind the two leaders is also tight and a good result on Sunday is essential to retain any hope of a top finish overall after the last race of the championship on January 22.

Only three points (net) separates third placed Shaw and Partners Financial Services, Smeg, Lazarus and Fisher & Paykel.

Adding another dimension to the contest is the ongoing improvement of new boats Rag & Famish Hotel and Balmain Slake, the introduction of the new Finport Finance (Keagan York) and the return from New Zealand of Sean Langman's Noakesailing.

Progress Pointscores: (net after present discard)

2 Andoo, John Winning Jr.
3 Yandoo, John Winning
6 Shaw and Partners Financial Services, Jim Colley
8 Smeg, Michael Coxon
9 Lazarus, Marcus Ashley-Jones
9 Fisher & Paykel, Jordan Girdis
11 Rag & Famish Hotel, Harry Price
14 Balmain Slake, Henry Larkings
14 Birkenhead Point Marina, Kirk Mitchell
17 Burrawang-Young Henrys, Simon Nearn
19 The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines, Alex Marinelli
20 The Kitchen Maker-Caesarstone, Lachlan Steel
21 Marine Outlet, Cam Gundy
22 Noakes Blue, Nathan McNamara
24 18 Footers Bar & Restaurant, Pedro Vozone
24 Noakes Youth, Tom Cunich
28 Lazarus Youth, Hugo Stoner

Spectators can follow the action on board the club's spectator ferry, as they have done for the past 87 years, which leaves Double Bay Wharf alongside the clubhouse at 2pm.

Booking online through the club's website www.18footers.com is essential at, 18footers.com/18-footer-racing/spectator-ferry

For anyone who can't make it out onto the water, the League's live broadcast team will be out on Sydney Harbour to capture all the action. Live streaming is available at www.18footers.com by clicking on the '18 Footers TV' link.

Related Articles

18ft Skiffs: Queensland 18 footer history
Decades of successful ideas and achievement Queensland's revival over recent seasons, which resulted in a two-pronged attack by experienced and young teams in new skiffs at the 2025 Giltinan world championship Posted on 2 Jul
18ft Skiff European Championships
Germany's Black Knight takes the title by a single point The International 18 Footer League - European Championship 2025, hosted by Circolo Vela Arco, concluded on Thursday, after five days of spectacular racing featuring some of the fastest and most exciting skiffs in the sailing world. Posted on 27 Jun
Western Australia's 18 footers history
An on-off situation between the 1890s and 2013 Western Australia's participation in the Australian 18 footer scene has been an on-off situation between the 1890s and 2013 but its impact during the early years of the class demands that it is remembered today by all 18 footer supporters and enthusiasts. Posted on 11 Jun
The link between two great Australian sports
A unique connection between brute strength and beauty James Joseph Giltinan was one of Australia's great entrepreneurs of the early 1900s, and the man most responsible for creating a unique link between one of the most confrontational football codes in the world and the beauty of sailing. Posted on 25 May
The last 18' skiff champion before one design
Michael Spies won the 1993 and 1995 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championships When Michael Spies won the 1993 and 1995 World 18 footer championships, in his Julian Bethwaite-designed Winfield Racing skiff, he became the last winner of the title before the introduction of the new one-design 18 footer won its first title in 1996. Posted on 14 May
Smeg's 29 years of 18ft Skiff sponsorship success
It all began when a Trevor Barnabas-led team raced a skiff named Omega Smeg-2UE The Smeg Australia 18ft skiff sponsorship with the Australian 18 footers League began in 1996-97 and has continued harmoniously, with many great successes, over the following twenty nine seasons on Sydney Harbour. Posted on 7 May
The 18ft Skiff 'Big Boat Era'
The original 18 footers which raced from the 1890s to the mid-1930s We are all familiar with the modern 18 footers as they speed across Sydney Harbour with their carbon fibre hulls and lightweight state-of-the-art sails and spars but they a vastly different to the original 18 footers. Posted on 23 Apr
A look back at the 2003 18ft Skiff JJ Giltinan
The closest of 76 regattas in the greatest championship The recent JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship regatta produced some nervous moments for the Yandoo team of Tom Needham, Fang Warren and Lewis Brake during the 'crazy' westerly conditions of the last race Posted on 30 Mar
Winnings JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship Day 7
The Yandoo team of Tom Needham, Fang Warren and Lewis Brake wrap up the win The Yandoo team of Tom Needham, Fang Warren and Lewis Brake became the world 18 footer champions after scoring a brilliant victory in the Winnings 2025 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship, which concluded on Sydney Harbour today. Posted on 16 Mar
Winnings JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship Day 6
Yandoo in pole position going into Sunday's final race The Yandoo team of Tom Needham, Fang Warren and Lewis Brake went into today's Race 8 on Sydney Harbour with a two points lead over Finport Finance, its closest challenger to retaining the coveted title. Posted on 15 Mar
Sea Sure 2025Rolly Tasker Sails 2023 FOOTERB&G Zeus SR AUS