2025/26 B14 Australian National Titles at Midway Point Yacht Club

by Steve Miller 4 Jan 13:29 PST 28 December 2025 - 2 January 2026

The 2025/26 B14 Australian National Titles delivered five days of varied and demanding racing at Midway Point Yacht Club, showcasing the full breadth of conditions the B14 class thrives in - from drifting sea-breeze delays to classic high-wind skiff sailing.

Across ten races, the championship was defined by consistency at the front, close battles throughout the fleet, and an outstanding effort from competitors and volunteers alike.

A Delayed Start, Then a Statement of Intent

The regatta opened with a testing first afternoon as the anticipated sea breeze failed to arrive on schedule. Race 1 was abandoned while the fleet waited for the prevailing north-easterly to establish, with the start boat relocated and the course reset. When the breeze finally filled in at 10-14 knots, racing got under way at 3:40pm.

Snatch (Craig Garmston / Paul Fleming) wasted no time stamping their authority on the series, taking a commanding win by nearly two minutes. Rocket Ship (Nick Richardson / Natalia Wisniewska) followed in second, with Jumpin' Jack Flash (Roger Jackson / Luke Verceli) third. Race 2 followed in similar conditions later that afternoon, with Snatch again on top, ahead of The Nude (Richie Reynolds / Lissa McMillan) and Rocket Ship.

Southerlies and Tight Racing

Day two brought a solid southerly of around 15 knots, gusting over 20, delivering fast, physical racing and rapid spinnaker legs. Snatch continued their winning run in Race 3, finishing more than a minute clear of Rocket Ship, while Bone Work (Ralph Stanford / Dominik Vogt) edged out RSC Side Effects (Renee / Rob Cordingley) for third.

By Race 4 the breeze had softened, forcing the race officer to shorten the course. Despite the lighter conditions, the racing remained close, with Snatch holding off The Nude by just three seconds, Rocket Ship again completing the podium.

Classic B14 Conditions Test the Fleet

Day three delivered what many regard as true B14 conditions: a solid SSE breeze averaging 16-19 knots with gusts regularly into the mid 20s and beyond. The demanding conditions took their toll, with multiple retirements and several boats failing to finish.

Through the chaos, Snatch once again showed remarkable consistency, winning Race 5 ahead of Rocket Ship and Blown Seal (Rob Winn / Tom Carolyn). After a delay caused by the start boat dragging anchor, Race 6 got under way in similar conditions. Snatch claimed yet another narrow victory over Rocket Ship, with Bang Bang (Scott Foster / Tony Miller) in third.

Racing was followed by the traditional Buggar the Bone event, rounding out a memorable day both on and off the water.

Near-Perfect Skiff Sailing

Day four proved to be one of the highlights of the regatta, with near-ideal south-easterly conditions allowing a full three-race program. The breeze built steadily from around 12 knots to the high teens, with gusts into the low 20s, producing fast, exhilarating racing across the fleet.

Race 7 delivered the only interruption to Snatch's dominance, with RSC Side Effects holding them at bay to claim a well-earned win. The Nude finished second, with Snatch third. Normal service resumed in Races 8 and 9, as Snatch returned to the top step of the podium, chased closely by Rocket Ship and The Nude in both races.

Throughout the day there were numerous "races within races", underlining the depth of competition across the fleet.

A Fitting Finale

The championship concluded with a single race on day five. Despite an early forecast of light winds, the fleet enjoyed another excellent race in a 13-knot south-easterly. Tight tussles and frequent position changes characterised the race, with a significant windward mark move after the first lap catching several boats out, including the leading group.

At the finish, Snatch sealed an emphatic series victory with their ninth win from ten races. The Nude finished second in the final race, followed by Rocket Ship, with RSC Side Effects rounding out the top four after an excellent regatta.

Overall Results: (scratch, top 3, full results below)

1. Snatch (Craig Garmston / Paul Fleming) - 8 pts
2. Rocket Ship (Nick Richardson / Natalia Wisniewska) - 19 pts
3. The Nude (Richie Reynolds / Lissa McMillan) - 22 pts

On handicap, honours went to Blown Seal (Rob Winn / Tom Carolyn), ahead of Postage Stamp (Richard McMinn / Lucy Rees) and Bang Bang (Scott Foster / Tony Miller).

Thanks to the Volunteers

The championship's success owed much to the tireless efforts of the race management team and volunteers. Special thanks go to Commodore Michael Verrier for his constant on-water support, canteen manager Marlene Nichols and her team, Helen Eggins and Andrew Verrier in the start boat, and the many rescue boat crews and shore supporters who ensured safe and efficient racing throughout the week.

The 2025/26 B14 Australian National Titles will be remembered for its variety of conditions, fierce competition, and a benchmark performance from Snatch - an outstanding regatta for the class.

Overall Results:

Pos	Boat Name	Sail No	Skipper	Crew	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	Pts
Scratch
1	Snatch	AUS 375	Craig Garmston	Paul Fleming	1	1	1	1	1	1	3	1	1	1	8
2	Rocket Ship	AUS 792	Nick Richardson	Natalia Wisniewska	2	3	2	3	2	2	4	3	2	3	19
3	The Nude	AUS 800	Richard Reynolds	Lissa McMillan	6	2	6	2	3	16	2	2	3	2	22
4	RCS Side E	AUS 781	Renee Cordingley	Robert Cordingley	7	4	4	4	16	4	1	4	4	4	29
5	Bang Bang	AUS 371	Scott Foster	Tony Miller	5	5	5	9	6	3	7	5	5	5	39
6	Blown Seal	AUS 779	Rob Winn	Tom Carolyn	12	7	7	10	4	5	11	6	6	8	53
7	Signi cant Other	AUS 368	Ryan Gerrish	Tim Brazier	4	9	8	8	7	8	12	8	7	6	56
8	Phantom	AUS 367	Steve Miller	Sarah Haywood	9	13	10	7	5	6	6	9	12	9	61
9	Bone Work	AUS 373	Ralph Stanford	Dominic Vogt	8	6	3	5	16	16	9	10	16	7	64
10	Jumpin’ Jack Flash	AUS 152	Roger Jackson	Luke Vieceli	3	8	16	11	16	16	5	7	10	10	70
11	Postage Stamp	AUS 369	Richard McMinn	Lucy Rees	13	10	16	12	16	7	10	12	8	11	83
12	On the Edge	AUS 794	Brady Tassiker	Penny Tassiker	10	14	9	6	16	16	14	11	9	13	86
13	Early Warning	AUS 377	Ross Daley	Tony van Galen	11	11	11	15	16	16	13	13	11	15	100
14	The Turtle	AUS 103	Huon Williams	Daisy Locke	14	16	13	13	16	16	8	14	16	14	108
15	Bondi Tram	AUS 357	Anthony House	Erica Huber	15	12	12	14	16	16	15	15	13	12	108
Handicap
1	Blown Seal	AUS 779	Rob Winn	Tom Carolyn	12	7	2	11	1	2	12	1	2	2	28
2	Postage Stamp	AUS 369	Richard McMinn	Lucy Rees	4	5	16	6	16	8	3	7	1	5	39
3	Bang Bang	AUS 371	Scott Foster	Tony Miller	10	2	4	14	5	1	9	8	4	7	40
4	Phantom	AUS 367	Steve Miller	Sarah Haywood	7	13	8	4	3	7	4	2	12	6	41
5	RCS Side E	AUS 781	Renee Cordingley	Robert Cordingley	14	3	6	9	16	4	2	5	3	10	42
6	The Nude	AUS 800	Richard Reynolds	Lissa McMillan	15	4	11	1	16	5	7	6	8	11	53
7	Bondi Tram	AUS 357	Anthony House	Erica Huber	8	1	12	12	16	16	5	11	5	1	55
8	Signi cant Other	AUS 368	Ryan Gerrish	Tim Brazier	6	11	5	9	6	9	15	9	10	3	57
9	Rocket Ship	AUS 792	Nick Richardson	Natalia Wisniewska	11	8	9	5	2	3	14	15	9	14	61
10	Early Warning	AUS 377	Ross Daley	Tony van Galen	1	6	7	15	16	16	8	10	6	9	62
11	On the Edge	AUS 794	Brady Tassiker	Penny Tassiker	5	14	1	2	16	16	10	12	7	13	64
12	The Turtle	AUS 103	Huon Williams	Daisy Locke	9	16	13	3	16	16	1	4	16	4	66
13	Snatch	AUS 375	Craig Garmston	Paul Fleming	3	12	10	7	4	6	13	14	13	15	68
14	Jumpin’ Jack Flash	AUS 152	Roger Jackson	Luke Vieceli	2	9	16	13	16	16	6	3	11	12	72
15	Bone Work	AUS 373	Ralph Stanford	Dominic Vogt	13	10	3	8	16	16	11	13	16	8	82

To find out more about the B14 - the world's fastest hiking skiff - visit www.b14.org