2026 Tri Search 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship - Day 1
by Di Pearson, 12ft Skiff Media 4 Jan 00:15 PST
3-10 January 2026
Sydney Sailmakers and Sail Inc. - 2026 triSearch 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship on Sydney Harbour © 12ft Skiffs
The highly fancied Sail Inc. crew of Nick Press and Andrew Hay have claimed the opening race of the 2026 triSearch 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship on Sydney Harbour this afternoon, the second race abandoned due to a predicted thunderstorm showing up on time.
Sail Inc., from Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club (LC12'SSC), got off the start near Clark Island well in the 15-20 gusty knot nor' easter and did not look back.
Try as they might, the Geotherm crew of Brett Hobson/Peter Nicholson from Sydney Flying Squadron (SFS), could not catch Sail Inc, despite a spirited gybing duel down the last run from Bradleys Head to the finish, initiated by Geotherm. However, Geotherm did close the gap - 16 seconds decided the race.
Josh Tasker/Brendan Jenkins sailed Sydney Sailmakers (SFS) into third place, but were two minutes behind Sail Inc. Monkey Wrench Jono Clough/Pat Morgan from Royal Akarana Yacht Club (RAYC) in New Zealand, Terms & Conditions Brad Phillips/Oscar Wilson (SFS) and Red Energy Murray Press/Mark Muirhead (LC12'SSC) followed.
"It was a beautiful nor' easter. "We had a big lead at the top mark, but Geotherm brought the breeze down with them," Press said ashore. "It was tricky down the last run," he added.
"It was nice to put the first one away. We're both (Sail Inc. and Geotherm) evenly matched in speed, so we didn't want to give anything away to them. They are always there."
The day did not start well for Geotherm. Carrying their third rig, as most others also chose, the spinnaker pole broke as they launched off the ramp. Back on land, her crew had to make do with a larger pole. It wasn't ideal, but it did the job.
"We didn't have much to lose, so we thought we'd go for it, give it a go," Hobson said. "We caught them up a bit in the end. We'll keep chipping away."
Eyeing the competition, Hobson said, "I think Ginge (C-Tech) will come good. Jono Clough (Monkey Wrench) and Sydney Sailmakers are also boats to watch. I think it'll be quite open."
A bit of argy bargy in the pre-start of the two lap windward/leeward course that took the 28 boats past Shark Island to Bottle & Glass, said everything. "A few pleasantries are being exchanged between crews," said former 12ft skiff sailor turned race commentator, Jimmy Walsh, provoking much laughter.
Sail Inc., C-Tech (Alex Vallings/Fraser Brown (RAYC) and As Good As It Gets (Glenn Armstrong/Roger Barnes from Worser Bay in New Zealand, got off the start best.
Past Interdominion winner, Paul O'Malley-Jones and Wayne Ritcher, sailing Giddy Up (Darling Point Sailing Squadron in Queensland), gave their steed a bit too much of a kick and were first to capsize, but they got up very quickly and finished 21st.
In ninth place today was The Darkside, skippered by six time Interdominion winner, Kiwi Tim Bartlett, crewed by Matt Hicks (RAYC). At 75 years old, Bartlett is not so much concentrating on the top prize.
"I'm competing against the guys of similar age to me - Murray Press (Red Energy), Glenn Armstrong (As Good As It Gets), Shaun Sheldrake (Momentary Lapse of Reason) and Jonathon Temple (LCC Asia Pacific).
"I loved today. I've known some of these people more than 50 years. Sailing these boats keeps me young," Bartlett said.
Ten races are planned for the Interdominion, which finishes on Saturday 10 January, with a lay day on Wednesday. The event is being hosted by the Australian 18 Footers League at Double Bay.
triSearch is the naming rights sponsor for the 63rd Interdominion and is a subsidiary of InfoTrack. Support sponsors are 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.
Thanks to Your Move Conveyancing and Pete's Home loans, spectators enjoyed Race 1 on the ferry today and can do so again on 10 January, for the final race. The ferry departs from Double Bay Wharf at 1.30pm, so bring your friends and family along to be a part of the action.
Ferry tickets here and here. 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.