18ft Skiff NSW Championship on Sydney Harbour - Races 1 & 2

The defending champion Andoo team of John Winning Jr, Seve Jarvin and Sam Newton hold a narrow lead after the first two races sailed on the opening day of the 2023-24 NSW 18ft Skiff Championship, conducted by the Australian 18 Footers League on Sydney Harbour today.

In the first race, which was sailed in a fluctuating SE breeze, Andoo scored a convincing 1m46s victory from Rag & Famish Hotel (Tom Needham, Josh McKnight, Simon Hoffman) with Yandoo (John Winning, Fang Warren, Lewis Brake) just 11s further back in third place.

Yandoo and Rag and Famish Hotel at the head of the fleet in Race 2 - 2023-24 NSW 18ft Skiff Championship - photo © SailMedia

Australian champion Finport Finance (Micah Lane) finished in fourth place ahead of Your Name Here (Kirk Mitchell) and Marine Outlet (John Cooley)

In the following race, the Yandoo team reversed the first race results when it took the honours by 35s from Andoo, with the new, unsponsored skiff Your Name Here (Kirk Mitchell) a further 26s back in third place.

Rag & Famish Hotel survived a near capsize on the spinnaker run to the finish line to cross in fourth place, ahead of Fisher & Paykel (Jordan Girdis) and Finport Finance.

The Rag and Andoo had a great contest in Race 2 - 2023-24 NSW 18ft Skiff Championship - photo © SailMedia

Andoo leads the progress point scores at the end of the day's racing with a total of 3 points, followed by Yandoo on 4 points, Rag & Famish Hotel on 6, Your Name Here on 8, Finport Finance on 10, with Smeg (Nathan McNamara) and Marine Outlet together on 17 points.

The racing was conducted in a wide range of wind directions. A NE breeze, which was there prior to the day's racing, changed just before the start of Race 1 and that race was sailed in a 8-10knot SE breeze which was very light at various stages of the race.

In Race 2, there was a dramatic change back to a slightly stronger NE breeze which forced race officials to re-set the course.

Andoo leads Yandoo on the race trach and the points table in the NSW 18ft Skiff Championship - photo © SailMedia

While the John Winning Jr. skippered Andoo was dominant, particularly on the windward beats, in the lighter SE wind, it was Yandoo, skippered by John Winning Senior, which led all the way to take out the second race.

A handicap section was sailed in conjunction with each of today's races and resulted in wins for The Kitchen Maker (Lachlan Steel) and Fisher & Paykel.

These are part of the League's Season Point Score (SPS) series.

The leading points in the SPS are Fisher & Paykel on 37 points, The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines (Jacob Marks) on 40 and Yandoo on 47 points.

Spinnakers are set after rounding the weather mark in Race 1 - 2023-24 NSW 18ft Skiff Championship - photo © SailMedia

Races 3 and 4 of the NSW Championship will be sailed next Sunday, December 3. Races 9 and 10 of the Season Point Score will be held in conjunction with the NSW Championship races.

The club's regular spectator ferry is now back in action and leaves Rose Bay Public Wharf (old wharf) at 2pm each Sunday.

For those unable to get the spectator ferry, you can still join the Australian 18 Footers League's 'Alternative Ferry in the League's clubhouse and enjoy all the racing action LIVE on the massive screen broadcasting the SailMedia Livestream camera cat coverage of the racing, and there will be special drinks and food offers for those attending who wish to support their favourite team.

It's a really unique way to celebrate the great racing we have seen at the start of the 2023-24 season and all 18 footer supporters are welcome to come down to the clubhouse Alternative' Ferry.

If you can't get out onto Sydney Harbour to see the action-packed racing, or come to the club's 'Alternative' Ferry', you can catch it LIVE by going to the Club's 18footers.com website and clicking on the TV link

18ft Skiff NSW Championship Results after Day 1: (two races)