Please select your home edition
Edition
Sailingfast 2018 2 728x90

12ft Skiff Australian Championship at Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club - Day 1

by Di Pearson / 12ft Skiff media 29 Mar 2024 09:00 GMT 29-31 March 2024
Reigning champion Geotherm is leading after Day 1 - 12ft Skiff Australian Championship © Vita Williams

With two races away on Day 1 of the 87th 12ft Skiff Australian Championship at Lane Cove, sponsored by Your Move Conveyancing, reigning champions, Brett Hobson and Peter Nicholson (Geotherm) own the top of the leaderboard after winning the opening race and placing second in Race 2.

Geotherm's crew, from Sydney Flying Squadron (SFS), cannot rest on their laurels though, as hot on their heels and just two points behind are second placegetters from last year, Nick Press and Andrew Hay (Sail Inc.) representing Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club (LCSSC).

Terms & Conditions (Brad Phillips/Oscar Wilson), representing SFS, gifted Geotherm a little breathing space on Sail Inc. after winning Race 2. Coupled with a fifth in Race 1, Terms & Conditions is third overall and just one point adrift of Sail Inc.

"It was a good day. Pretty tricky though, especially the second race, it was shifty," Hobson said. "We were second in that one, but we'll take it, as it was a hard one."

In the first race, Hobson said, "We won the after getting a good start. That was important as there were parking lanes everywhere.

"It ended up being a good day. We thought it would be lighter than it was, so it was unexpected and enjoyable.

"We were comfortable in that race. We remained untroubled by the usual suspects. Brad (Terms & Conditions) was getting within striking distance, but capsized."

Hobson added, "It's hard to tell how fast we are in the light wind and it's looking likely it will be the light for the rest. We'd love a third rig 20 knot nor' easter. Fresh, is what we'd love, but I don't think we're going to get that," he ended.

Tank Girl (Ben Guymer/Lachy Pearman) one of two skiffs from Darling Point Sailing Squadron in Manly, Queensland, leads the handicap results on countback to three other skiffs.

This has started a close series both on scratch and handicap with no margin for error.

Racing started at 2.30pm, with Race 2 held straight after Race 1.

The weather was a real treat for competitors in the sunny stakes, although the breeze became tricky by the second race, as Brad Phillips explained: "A variable easterly breeze - and breeze either side of that," he explained.

"We got 7-11 knots. In the first race it built to the 11-12 knot range, but in the second race it dropped off and became variable. Nice flat water though and not too many boats crossing paths."

Phillips and Wilson were doing well in the first race when they came a cropper. "We had a swim. We have to make no mistakes from here against especially the top two crews," Phillips admitted.

"We had a bit of a lead in Race 2, but it closed up, then we jumped away again on the last downwind to the finish. There were a few snakes and ladders. You could jump away, or you could get caught with no wind and miss out.

"I think there'll be a few boats close together by the end of the Championship. It's close now and we've got six races in total," he surmised.

All courses for the Australian Championship are west of the Harbour Bridge in the vicinity of the Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers and taking in some of Sydney's famous islands.

A further two races will be held tomorrow, with the final two races on Sunday, to decide the new Australian champions. The winning scratch pair will be awarded the Norman Booth Trophy and the handicap winners the Colin Clark Memorial Trophy. There are also trophies for the first Veteran (over 55) and for first Junior (under 25).

Conducted and hosted by Lane Cove Sailing Club on behalf of the 12ft Skiff Association, from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 March, the three-day Australian Championship is sponsored by Your Move Conveyancing. There are 21 entries, including two Queensland crews, Giddy Up and Tank Girl representing Darling Point Sailing Squadron in Manly.

For all information, including full results on the '12s', please visit www.skiff.org.au/87th-12ft-skiff-aust-championship.

For information, or to book a Your Move Conveyancing professional, please visit yourmoveconveyancing.com.au

Related Articles

88th 12ft Skiff Australian Championship
Racing held from the Sydney Flying Squadron over the weekend The 88th 12ft Skiff Championship was held from the Sydney Flying Squadron on Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd March. Posted on 28 Mar
R Class Leander Trophy – 75th anniversary
Roe and Snowden take home the top prize at the 2025 Leander Trophy, This year's 75th anniversary of the R Class National Championship for the Leander trophy continued a long tradition of striving for success against all odds, first established by those who bravely served on HMNZS Leander during WWII. Posted on 13 Mar
12ft Skiffs: A look at outstanding Woof pedigree
The three basic 12 Foot skiff rules are 12 foot long, 6 foot wide and the race starts at 1pm. The three basic 12 Foot skiff rules are 12 foot long, 6 foot wide and the race starts at 1pm. Posted on 27 Feb
12ft Skiff Interdominion a win for the generations
Monkeywrench delivers masterclass in 12ft Skiff Interdominions - top two in seven of the ten races No two days were ever the same at the 2025 12ft Skiff Interdominions, with conditions that ranged from 30 knots to a gentle 4kts, and winds shifting unpredictably between the North and South — sometimes even within the same afternoon. Posted on 27 Feb
Sydney Harbour Marathon
Part of the Australian 18 Footers League's 90th Anniversary celebrations The Australian 18 Footers League, as part of its 90th Anniversary celebrations recreated the Sydney Harbour Marathon, last sailed 37 years ago when 18, 16 and 12 footers competed on a similar course. Posted on 1 Feb
Parramatta River 12ft Skiff Championship
Geotherm won both the Upper Harbour and the Parramatta River Championship With two inter club events completed and the state titles looming Brett Hobson & Pete Nicholson have shown they are the team to beat. Posted on 10 Nov 2024
12ft Skiff Australian Championship overall
Geotherm team successfully defend their title Defending champions Brett Hobson and Peter Nicholson (Geotherm), won the last race of the 12ft Skiff Australian Championship sponsored by Your Move Conveyancing Posted on 31 Mar 2024
12ft Skiff Australian Championship Day 2
Geotherm extends lead on Sydney Harbour Defending champions, Brett Hobson and Peter Nicholson (Geotherm) have extend their lead on Day 2 of the 87th 12ft Skiff Australian Championship at Lane Cove, sponsored by Your Move Conveyancing. Posted on 30 Mar 2024
12ft Skiff 2024 NSW Sprint Championship
Father and son finish top two Twelve days out from the start of the 12ft Skiff Australian Championship, a father and son have finished top two at the 2024 NSW Sprints on the Harbour today; Red Energy (Murray Press/Mark Muirhead) taking the title from Sail Inc (Nick Press/Andrew Hay). Posted on 17 Mar 2024
12ft Skiff Port Jackson Championship
Press and Stevenson take the win on a dramatic day on Sydney Harbour The Sail Inc crew of Nick Press and Andrew Stevenson have taken out the 12 Foot Skiff Port Jackson Championship for the Graham 'Curly' Colless Memorial Trophy. Posted on 19 Feb 2024