2026 Tri Search 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship coming to Sydney Harbour
by Di Pearson, 12ft Skiff Media 1 Jan 20:59 PST
3-10 January 2026
Momentary Lapse of Reason - 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship © NSW 12ft Sailing Skiff Association
The 2026 triSearch 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship is coming to Sydney Harbour from 3-10 January, when up to 30 entries spanning NSW, Queensland and New Zealand are expected to take part, among them second and third placegetters from last year and past winners.
Alex 'Ginge' Vallings (C-Tech) from Royal Akarana Yacht Club (RAYC) in New Zealand finished runner-up last year in New Zealand, with Sam Richardson. The two were crowned champions at the previous Interdominion held in Queensland. Vallings returns, this time with Fraser Brown, who won the event with Vallings in 2016.
Third in 2025 went to Nick Press/Andrew 'Noddy' Hay, racing Sail Inc. out of Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club (LC12'SSC) in Sydney.
Press has been Interdominion Champion an unprecedented nine times, four times with Hay, while Brett Hobson (Geotherm) has one win and finished runner-up five times. Press, Hobson and Kiwi sailor, Vallings, have regular stoushes and the latter has beaten his Aussie adversaries on four occasions.
Eying off the competition, Nick Press says the above are among the favourites, "Giddy Up from Darling Point Sailing Squadron in Queensland (Paul O'Malley-Jones - a past winner, with Wayne Richter) is one to watch out for - and six-time winner, Tim Bartlett (crewed by Matt Hix on The Darkside from RAYC)."
Press agrees that Sydney Sailmakers (Josh Tasker/Brendan Jenkins from Sydney Flying Squadron) are a danger, as their results continue to improve, including winning the recent NSW Championship on countback.
Jono Clough (RAYC) has reclaimed his boat, Monkey Wrench, which he loaned to the 2025 Interdominion winners Eli Liefting/Blake McGlashan and will be among the contenders too. His for'ward hand is Pat Morgan.
There are others in the field that get amongst it that could surprise and many are also taking aim at the handicap win.
The Interdominion kicks off with the Invitation Race on Saturday 3 January. Then there are 10 races planned between 4 and 10 January, with a layday on Wednesday 7 January.
triSearch is the naming rights sponsor for the 63rd Interdominion.
"triSearch is proud to be the major sponsor of the 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship in January 2026. The Championship is the pinnacle of 12ft skiff sailing, bringing together elite sailors from across Australia and New Zealand, to compete in one of sailing's most challenging and exhilarating classes," triSearch CEO Chris Gibbs said.
"With a rich history of innovation, teamwork, and resilience, the 12ft skiff community reflects the same values we champion in our industry every day," he said.
On the synergy between the company and 12ft skiffs, Gibbs said, "At triSearch, we help legal and conveyancing professionals navigate complex work with smarter technology. Our all-in-one conveyancing software provides firms with a comprehensive platform that integrates property searching, workflow management and document automation. Our goal is to give firms more time to focus on what really matters: their clients and their growth.
"We are excited to support an event that celebrates precision and community, much like the work we do with our partners across the legal and conveyancing profession. The 2026 Interdominion promises to be a spectacular celebration of sailing excellence, and we look forward to being part of its success."
triSearch is a subsidiary of InfoTrack. Support sponsorship comes from Your Move Conveyancing and Pete's Home Loans.
First held on Sydney Harbour in 1957, the Interdominion is an annual competition between Australia and New Zealand for the Silasec Trophy - the one everyone wants - and the hardest one to win. It is to be hosted by the Australian 18 Footers League at Double Bay.
The Silasec Trophy was donated by Keith Golding of Sealwall Trading Company, who had an association with the Abbotsford Club. Many famous names are on the trophy, among them Iain Murray, John Winning, Bruce Farr, John Chapple, Dave Porter, Russell Bowler and Michael Coxon.
Spectators are invited to view the annual event, which is held alternately in Australia and New Zealand. There will be a Spectator Ferry on 4 and 10 January, departing from the Double Bay Wharf at 1.30pm, so bring your friends and family along to be a part of the action. Ferry tickets at: events.humanitix.com/4-january-12ft-skiff-interdominion-ferry-heats-1-and-2 and events.humanitix.com/10-january-12ft-skiff-interdominion-ferry-final-day Otherwise, take out your own boat or view from land.
For all information on the 12ft Skiff class and its events, please visit: www.skiff.org.au.