13ft Skiff Australian Championship wrap-up
by Adam Lucius 11 Jan 22:50 PST
4-11 January 2026
Champion skipper Heidi Bates has hinted her unprecedented reign as the queen of the 13s class may be coming to an end after she secured a second straight title at the Australian Championships.
In news that will no doubt come as a relief and comfort to fleet members accustomed to seeing the Manly sailor at the pointy end, the 17-year-old is contemplating a move to the 16s after steering Harken to a comfortable win at the Belmont nationals.
Teaming with crew member Christian Spencer for the first time, Bates piloted Harken to a pair of wins, three runner-up places and a fourth, fifth and sixth. If it proves to be a farewell to the 13s, it was the perfect way to go out.
"I'm not sure yet but I think next season I'm going to steer a 16," Bates said. "There are still a lot of things to work through but that's what we're looking at doing. "Being in the 13s has been good preparation. It's taught me how to sail a skiff and look at how the 16s do it."
Bates' growing reputation as a skipper was further enhanced by this latest win, with the defending Australian champ having to quickly build a union with Belmont-based Spencer following the departure of regular partner Orlando Sadlik to the 29ers.
"We hadn't really done much sailing together apart from a week together before the nationals," Bates said. "We sailed against each other in the 29ers but our first training session was pretty much the first time we'd met but it all seemed to work. "Winning this regatta was harder than last year. There were a lot of different conditions and lots of boats."
Eight Manly boats placed inside the top 10, with Buck & Simple (Lachlan Jansen/Max Barrett) second and Buckingham Marine (Ash Napper/Theo Franklin) third. Jansen and Barrett went into the final day just two points adrift of Harken but a 13th in the last heat dashed their title hopes.
St George entrant Infinity Rigging (Tom Hughes/Noah Chenhall) finished an excellent regatta with a very creditable ninth and were a popular winner of the handicap division.
2026 Skelcon 16ft & 13ft Skiff Australian Championship results available here.