The dates for the 2012/13 Australian 16ft Skiff Championships, to be held at Manly (NSW), have been announced.

The Championships will commence on Friday 11th January 2013 and run through to Saturday 19th January 2013.  Further details on the proposed race schedule will be issued later.

At the recent annual conference of the Australian 16ft Skiff Association, the Drummoyne Sailing Club's application to host the 2013/14 Australian Championships was approved.  The Championships will be part of Drummoyne's celebration of 100 years of 16ft skiff sailing at the Club.  The dates for the Championship will be Friday 3rd January 2014 through to Saturday 10th January 2014. 

The Australian 16ft Skiff Championships, sailed on Hervey Bay in Queensland from 28th December 2011 to 5th January 2012, was won by "Fluid Building" sailed by Clint Bowen and crew of Anthony King and Brent Dennis from Manly (NSW).  "Fluid Building" secured the series with a scorecard of 1-1-1-1-3-3-DNS (10 points).  

Minor placings saw "AB Window Fashions" (skipper Ben Bruniges, crew Troy Dobinson and David Hickey) from Belmont finish second on 18 points with a scorecard of 2-3-3-12-1-6-3.  "Fire Stopping" (skipper Ben Bianco and crew James Bury and Rob Napper) also from Manly (NSW) finished a close third on 21 points with a scorecard of 7-4-2-2-2-5-6. 

Generally speaking breezes for the series ranged from 10 through to 22 knots, mainly from the East-South-East.   

The win was "Fluid's" third, having had previous wins in 2005-06 and 2009-10.  This Australian Championship win this season caps off a very successful season as they also convincingly won the 2011-12 NSW 16ft Skiff State Championship last November.

"John Romanous Consulting Engineers" sailed by Yvette Lewis and crewed by Brett Dutton and Daniel McLachlan from the Illwarra Yacht Club won the handicap point score on 39 points, with "RW Retail" (Daniel Jack from DPSS) second on 41 points.  For full Championship point score click here and full handicap point score click here.
 

Race 5 of the NSW 16ft Skiff State Championships was sailed on Botany Bay on Saturday 26th November.  The rain, which had been pretty consistent for several days and continued into the Saturday morning, finally broke at around midday, clearing to a sunny afternoon.  The clearing weather, however, also resulted in a drop in the wind which had been blowing up to 30 knots from the North-East earlier in the day. 

The start had to be postponed with the wind a fickle 3-7 knots from the North and shifting.  The race got under way, however, at 3.15pm when a North-East sea breeze moved in across the Bay, eventually coming in to around 15-20 knots with gusts during the race up to 25 knots, causing some problems for the fleet who were all carrying big rigs.

"Brydens Compensation Lawyers" sailed by Danny Anderson from Belmont, revelled in the fresh conditions, went to an early lead and was never headed to win by nearly 2mins and 30 secs from "Spatial Info" (Kieran Humphries), also from Belmont.  Third place went to "Sutech Building Services" (Daniel Turner) from Manly. "Brydens" also took out the handicap honours.  Of the 21 starters, eight skiffs were forced to retire with various broken gear.  For full results click here.

Race 6 on Sunday 27th November saw quieter, but much more frustrating conditions.  During the morning the wind was in the West and blowing 15-25 knots.  As the boats rigged, the wind showed signs of easing and the greater majority carried big rigs.  By the start time at 2.30pm, the wind was South-West and varying between 4 to 18 knots.  With much of the course being in the mouth of the Georges River, the tide also proved a factor.  "Newcastle Herald" sailed by David Stewart from Belmont broke away to an early lead and maintained it for most of the race.  However, as the race went on the wind started to become lighter and started to show signs of shifting more to the South, at times.  Placings became a bit of a lottery, with the tide and light, shifting wind making it very challenging for crews.

As the race entered the final leg, the wind shifted to the East South East and came in at around 5-10 knots.  This caused a shift in the placings with "AB Window Fashions" (Ben Bruniges) from Belmont moving to the lead to just pip the luckless "Newcastle Herald" by 15 seconds at the finish.  Third place went to "John Romanous Consulting Engineers" sailed by Yvette Lewis from Illawarra Yacht Club.  Yvette, who previously sailed from the Georges River Club, used her local knowledge, and sailing one of the best races of her career, also took out the handicaps honours.  For full results click here.

Although not having such a good weekend, "Fluid Building Services", sailed by Clint Bowen, Anthony King and Brent Dennis, easily won the overall series to win back to back State Championships.  With four wins, a 6th placing and a "DNF", they won with 10 points from runner up "Spatial Info" (Kieran Humphries) on 18 points from Belmont (5-2-7-2-2-10 placings), with "Brydens Compensation Lawyers" a close third on 19 points (3-3-5-7-1-11 placings).  For full results click here.

Handicap honours for the series went to "John Romanous Consulting Engineers" (Yvette Lewis).  Click here for full results.