18ft Skiff Australian Championship on Sydney Harbour - Race 2

2018-19 Australian 18ft skiff champion James Dorron showed the skills that gave him the title when, as stand-in skipper for the injured John 'Woody' Winning, he led the Yandoo team of Fang Warren and Lewis Brake to an outstanding victory in Race 2 of the 2023-24 Australian 18ft skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour today.

Yandoo trailed narrowly at the end of the first windward leg from Clark Island to the Beashel Buoy, but soon grabbed the lead on the spinnaker run to the wind mark at the southern end of Shark Island and from that point was never in danger of defeat as the team powered around the course in the patchy 8-10 knot North east wind.

At the finish, Yandoo crossed the line a 2m19s winner from Rag & Famish Hotel (Harry Price, Josh McKnight, Finn Rodowicz), with The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines (Jacob Marks, Alex Marinelli, Matt Doyle) a further 2m18s back in third place.

All eyes on the action ahead as The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines crew prepare for the spinnaker drop - 18ft Skiff Australian Championship Race 2 - photo © SailMedia

Vaikobi (Kirk Mitchell) finished in fourth place, ahead of The Kitchen Maker (Lachlan Steel), and Giltinan champion Andoo (John Winning Jr).

After the first two races of the six-race championship, Yandoo leads the points table on 3 points, followed by Andoo, Rag & Famish Hotel and Vaikobi, each on 7 points. Smeg (Nathan McNamara) and Balmain (Henry Larkings) round out the top six placings on 14 points.

Andoo leads Vaikobi and Rag and Famish Hotel on the first lap of the course - 18ft Skiff Australian Championship Race 2 - photo © SailMedia

The Kitchen Maker won the handicap section of the race, which is part of the season-long club point score series, which is currently led by Fisher & Paykel (Jordan Girdis).

Sixt (Nathan Edwards) leads the handicap section being conducted as part of the Australian Championship.

Andoo narrowly led the fleet at the Beashel Buoy on the first lap of the course from Yandoo, The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines, Vaikobi, Rag & Famish Hotel and a group including Sixt, The Kitchen Maker, Lazarus (Tom Cunich) and Fisher & Paykel.

Approaching the bottom mark - 18ft Skiff Australian Championship Race 2 - photo © SailMedia

Yandoo quickly took the lead in the light air and opened up a break over the fleet on the two-leg spinnaker run from the Beashel Buoy, through the wing mark off Shark Island to the bottom mark at Clark Island.

Rag & Famish Hotel and Vaikobi joined a battle with Andoo behind the leader, with the young The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines team just behind that group, in fifth place.

Vaikobi at pace down the first spinnaker run - 18ft Skiff Australian Championship Race 2 - photo © SailMedia

When the fleet split on which side of the course to sail on the final of three laps of the course, Vaikobi and Andoo lost out badly allowing The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines and The Kitchen Maker to finish third and fifth respectively.

Race 3 of the Australian Championship will be sailed next Sunday (28 January). The League's spectator ferry will follow the action, leaving Double Bay Public Wharf at 2pm. Tickets are available 18footers.com/18-footer-racing/spectator-ferry

If you prefer, you can still join the League's 'Alternative Ferry' in the clubhouse and enjoy all the racing action LIVE on the massive screen broadcasting the SailMedia Livestream camera cat coverage. It's a really unique way to celebrate the great racing and all 18 footer supporters are welcome to come down to the clubhouse 'Alternative Ferry'.

If you can't get out onto Sydney Harbour, or come to the club's 'Alternative' Ferry', you can still watch it LIVE by going to the Club's www.18footers.com website and clicking on the TV link.

Spinnaker run to the bottom mark on the first lap of the course - 18ft Skiff Australian Championship Race 2 - photo © SailMedia

Race 2 Results: