2023 AUS O'pen Skiff Championship at South of Perth Yacht Club

by Bevan McKavanagh 15 Jan 2023 15:16 GMT 10-13 January 2023

2023 AUS O'pen Skiff Championship © AUS O'pen Skiff Association

Wow, what a week we've had at South of Perth YC for the 2023 AUS O'pen Skiff Champs. After missing out on hosting the 2021 AUS Championships thanks to Covid, the fleet finally made it to Perth for the Nationals 10 years after WA last hosted the Championships at Royal Freshwater Bay YC. Let's just say it was worth the wait!

South of Perth YC (SoYPC) really turned it on for us. Organising committee chair Ed Armstrong and his team put their heart and soul into what most would say, was the best Nationals ever. A few of Ed's key team members included SoPYC local and renown Race Office Les Swinton, super experienced ex-America's Cup umpire and judge David Tallis, SoPYC Head Coach, Denis Jones and a long list of other, local volunteers. A very experienced team coupled with an amazing location and facilities overlooking the city of Perth made it a fantastic regatta.

2023 AUS O'pen Skiff Championship - photo © AUS O'pen Skiff Association

With Gold Fleet, the most experienced, consisting of 38 sailors, Silver Fleet the intermediate sailors with 24 sailors and Green Fleet the novice sailors with 6, we had a total of 68 boats on the water over the 5-day Championships. A solid representation of 12 sailors from the Eastern states including QLD, NSW, VIC and Tas, along with 3 sailors from New Zealand, 1 from Thailand and 1 from India.

The regatta kicked off with 2 days of coaching which allowed the sailors to acclimatize to what was generally a winder location for the visiting sailors. Head coach from SoPYC Denis Jones and his team did a superb job, allowing sailors to acquire new skills and acclimatize before the racing started.

Gold Fleet Start during the 2023 AUS O'pen Skiff Championship - photo © AUS O'pen Skiff Association

Day one started with the Invitation Race, a non-point score race to allow sailors to see where they were amongst the big fleet. They then came ashore and locked in their final fleet selection, whether it be Gold, Silver or Green. The afternoon continued with 2 races, both counting towards the championship.

Day Two was a big day, 3 races in the morning, following by 3 after lunch. The generally lighter morning conditions, with the stronger sea breeze in the afternoon ensured a mix of conditions. Day 2 put the Championships in a good position, only 2 days in and already 8 races in the bag.

2023 AUS O'pen Skiff Championship - photo © AUS O'pen Skiff Association

Day Three, we managed a light wind point score race in the morning, followed by an O'pen Skiff speciality event, a 2-up Adventure race, a non-point scoring race with some great prizes. The adventure races give the sailors a super fun race without the pressure of having to perform. To make up the 2-person teams, we match the top-ranking sailor from the invitation race with the bottom ranking sailor and work our way to the middle of the fleet. This provides an opportunity for the better sailors to pass on some knowledge to the more novice sailors and encourages them to mix and meet other sailors.

Day Four was going to be windy! Sailors were on the water by 10am and it was already blowing 15 knots. With 12 races done the plan was for another 2 to make 14 which would allow for 3 drops so only 2 races were done on the last day.

International visitors for the 2023 AUS O'pen Skiff Championship - photo © AUS O'pen Skiff Association

The Western Australian sailors dominated in the generally windy conditions, with local RRBYC sailor Brenn Armstrong well out in front to take the overall title. Special mention should go to Kasion Puls, a young sailor currently residing on Christmas Island that was the top U12 sailor and one to watch for the future. The hard luck story goes to Hudson Armstrong (no relation to Brenn Hudson) who had a broken rudder take him out of race 5, followed by a broken rudder pintail that took him out of Race 10. If it wasn't for such bad luck, Hudson would have been on the podium.

2023 AUS O'pen Skiff Championship Gold Fleet Overall: 3rd Bindy Vitale-Jones, 2nd Addison Newlan, 1st Brenn Armstrong - photo © AUS O'pen Skiff Association

2023 AUS O'pen Skiff Championship Silver Fleet Overall: 3rd Oskar Bromberger, 2nd Oceana Vitale-Jones, 1st Billie McCracken - photo © AUS O'pen Skiff Association

It really was a fantastic event, a great mix of superb organisation, impressive high-level racing with a relaxed easy-going vibe. It was so great to see the sailors making new friends and connecting with old. It's been 10 years since Western Australia has hosted an Australian O'pen Skiff Championships, let's make sure it's not another 10 before they host another.

The Australian O'pen Skiff would like to say a very special thank you to South of Perth YC and in particular event director Ed Armstrong for the effort that went into the 2023 AUS O'pen Skiff Champs.

Overall Results:

Pos	Helm	Boat Name	Sail No	State	Club	Cat	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	R13	R14	Pts
1	BRENN ARMSTRONG	2Disbicable	12624	WA	Royal Freshwater Bay YC	Under 15	2	1	5	8	1	3	1	5	‑16	‑14	2	‑10	1	2	31
2	ADDISON NEWLAN	Afterburner	12623	QLD	Southport YC	Under 15 Female	‑15	‑18	1	1	‑13	9	4	1	10	3	7	2	2	3	43
3	BINDY VITALES‑JONES	Ben	12638	WA	RFBYC & SOPYC	Under 15 Female	3	‑15	2	5	8	1	2	‑15	5	6	8	5	‑12	1	46
4	HUDSON ARMSTRONG	Wananavu	12579	WA	Royal Freshwater Bay YC	Under 15	4	3	‑13	6	‑38	7	3	2	2	‑39	6	3	4	6	46
5	PIA HOOPER	Smelly Sardines	12581	WA	Royal Freshwater Bay YC	Under 15 Female	‑17	5	8	2	3	4	7	‑14	3	‑34	5	9	3	4	53
6	FLYNN WALFORD	BIG BIC	12641	WA	South of Perth YC	Under 15	7	4	‑19	7	4	2	‑16	3	12	‑13	4	1	9	9	62
7	EWAN BRAZLE	Tartaruga	12504		Manly SC	Under 15	6	‑21	9	4	5	8	‑11	8	1	2	11	6	6	‑12	66
8	RUSSELL HARRIS	Overdrive Jnr	12547	QLD	Whitsunday SC	Under 15	1	6	10	‑22	7	5	8	9	7	4	9	11	‑17	‑13	77
9	NOAH KARANTONIS	Sea You Later	12631	WA	SoPYC/JBSC	Under 15	12	2	3	3	‑19	6	‑18	4	13	7	10	‑15	7	10	77
10	KAISON PULS	Island Time	12506	WA	South of Perth YC	Under 12	‑14	10	6	10	9	‑20	6	13	OCS	1	1	7	11	5	79
11	ATLAS MILLER	Van Demon	12634	TAS	Kingston Beach SC	Under 15	5	7	‑17	‑18	10	11	5	6	8	11	‑16	8	14	16	101
12	ALICIA VAN DUREN	Vanishing Point	11373	WA	South of Perth YC	Under 15 Female	10	9	11	‑16	6	12	‑15	7	‑25	8	14	14	5	7	103
13	ANANDI CHANDAVARKAR	BIC	12535		RBYC Mumbai	Under 15 Female	9	‑23	22	11	2	13	10	17	‑27	5	3	12	10	‑23	114
14	FINLEY SYMONDS	Fins Toy	12525	WA	MBSC/FSC	Under 15	8	11	15	15	11	‑19	9	‑24	9	9	‑19	13	16	8	124
15	CORRADO DORRINGTON	Barracuda	12584	VIC	Mordialloc SC/ Torquay SC	Under 15	DNF	13	14	9	12	18	‑22	16	OCS	18	22	4	8	18	152
16	FINN VAN DUREN	Bullfrog	11898	WA	South of Perth YC	Under 12	20	8	20	20	17	16	‑23	11	OCS	16	12	‑25	15	11	166
17	SAMUEL DALTON	Sam I am	12640	NSW	Mannering Park ASC	Under 15	16	30	‑36	DNC	DNC	10	20	10	6	10	18	17	19	17	173
18	CONNOR HARRIS	Hey hey	12549	QLD	Whitsunday SC	Under 15	23	DNF	‑25	24	‑34	17	13	19	4	15	15	21	13	19	183
19	TOM HUGHES	GT	12582	NSW	Illawarra YC	Under 15	13	16	18	13	18	‑22	21	‑32	14	19	17	16	‑28	22	187
20	REBECCA BEST	Chrysalis	12546	WA	RFBYC and RPYC	Under 15 Female	25	22	21	19	‑26	23	19	‑26	11	12	13	‑27	18	15	198
21	OCEANA OAKLEY	Aerobic	11147	WA	PDSC SoPYC RFBYC	Under 15 Female	11	17	23	14	16	‑24	‑28	21	18	17	‑29	24	23	14	198
22	ZOE WEBB	Little BIC Psycho 2	12613	NSW	Belmont 16ft SSC	Under 17 Female	‑34	‑31	7	17	14	21	25	12	17	23	20	‑30	20	25	201
23	TOBY MCKAVANAGH	BICtory	12532	NSW	Manly YC	Under 15	27	20	16	12	‑30	14	12	18	‑30	22	24	22	‑30.5	20	207
24	DARCY BRINKMANN‑GRAY	Mr Percival	10960	WA	Royal freshwater Bay YC	Under 15	‑30	12	4	‑29	20	26	14	22	15	20	‑31	23	27	29	212
25	EMMA WEBB	Usain Bic	12619	NSW	Belmont 16ft SSC	Under 15 Female	‑31	‑26	12	‑27	15	15	24	23	20	25	26	18	24	21	223
26	HUGH HEALY	HUGH GO	11897	WA	Royal Freshwater Bay YC	Under 15	24	14	‑31	28	21	28	DNC	20	DNF	27	21	28	22	26	259
27	LIA RAFART	PAC‑MAN	8054	WA	RFBYC / FSC	Under 15 Female	19	24	27	‑31	22	‑32	29	27	24	‑31	25	31	29	24	281
28	LUCAS CUNNINGHAM	OlymBIC	12597	WA	MBSC/FSC	Under 15	22	33	24	‑36	28	‑35	31	‑35	26	21	30	20	30.5	27	292.5
29	NOAH TILLER	The Wind Cries Mary	12557	WA	Royal Freshwater Bay YC	Under 15	‑32	27	‑38	23	31	31	17	30	23	32	23	26	‑34	31	294
30	LUKE CARRICK	Lucky	12497	WA	South of Perth YC	Under 17	28	29	26	26	29	25	‑33	29	21	‑33	32	19	32	‑33	296
31	ZAC DUNCANSON	Ripsnorter	12636		Phuket YC	Under 17	26	19	32	‑34	32	27	26	25	29	24	‑34	32	‑37	34	306
32	WOJTEK TARASEWICZ	Cerberus	69420	WA	Royal Freshwater Bay YC	Under 12	21	25	33	30	25	33	‑34	‑36	32	30	28	‑34	21	28	306
33	EVAN COLLINS	Can't Touch This	10897	WA	South of Perth YC	Under 15	18	32	28	32	‑36	29	32	28	DNF	28	27	29	25	‑36	308
34	CHARLIE VAN DER STRUYF	My Space	10948	WA	Royal Freshwater Bay YC	Under 15	33	28	29	21	24	30	30	33	DNF	29	‑36	36	‑38	32	325
35	EMMA TALLIS	Bob The BiC	12585	NSW	Manly YC	Under 15 Female	29	‑35	30	25	23	34	DNS	DNC	28	26	33	35	33	30	326
36	SARAH ATKINSON	Banging the corners	12524	WA	Royal Freshwater Bay YC	Under 15 Female	‑37	34	35	33	33	‑36	27	31	22	36	‑37	33	26	35	345
37	AMEILIA TRACEY	Hawkmoth	12628	QLD	Tinaroo SC	Under 15 Female	35	‑37	‑37	‑37	35	37	35	34	19	35	35	37	35	37	374
38	JAMIE LIPPIATT	Kookaburra	12603	WA	Royal Freshwater Bay YC	Under 15	36	36	34	35	27	38	DNC	DNC	31	37	DNC	DNC	36	38	387