12ft Skiff Interdominions to Eli Liefting & Blake McGlashan in 20yr old borrowed boat
by Tim Bartlett 27 Feb 09:35 GMT
27 February 2025
Eli Liefting & Blake McGlashan - 12ft Skiff Interdominion - Royal Akarana Yacht Club - January 11, 2025 © Garrick Cameron
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.
One thing remained constant, though: the racing was tight and fiercely competitive throughout the fleet, no matter the conditions.
Aussie team Nick Press and Andrew Hay made an early impression, winning the first race of the regatta and following it up with a second-place finish in the next. Day one proved to be the windiest of the event, with gusts reaching into the late 20s and early 30s, battering the course and setting the stage for what was sure to be an exhilarating series. Kiwi team Eli Liefting and Blake McGlashan, after a delayed start in the first race, found their rhythm in the second, claiming a bullet. By the end of day two, they had secured the overall lead, which they would hold for the remainder of the regatta.
Both Blake and Eli are currently campaigning for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics—Blake in the 49er and Eli in the IQFoil. They stepped in to race the Monkeywrench after its owner was unable to compete, and together they delivered a masterclass in speed and strategy. Consistently finishing in the top two in seven of the ten races, they proved themselves as formidable competitors.
As the final day of racing dawned, it was still anyone’s game. Monkeywrench, Dream Catcher, C-Tech, and Sail Inc. were all within just 5 points of each other, making for a thrilling conclusion. The mind games began on the ramp, as the top teams waited until the last possible moment to make their rig selection, hoping someone else would blink first.
The forecast called for a building southwesterly breeze—starting with a two-rig for the first race, but shifting to a three-rig by race two. With no time for a swap between races, each team had to choose carefully. There was in even split in the decision, with C-Tech (Alex Vallings & Sam Richardson), and Monkeywrench (Eli Liefting & Blake McGlashan) opting for the two-rig, while Dream Catcher (Chris Skinner & Ash Edwards) and Sail Inc. (Nick Press & Andrew Hay),went with the smaller three-rig.
Once the fleet cleared the Okahu Bay breakwater, it was immediately clear that the breeze was much stronger than anticipated. As they say, “southwesters never die.” After a general recall in the first race, the fleet charged upwind, and Monkeywrench and C-Tech rounded the top mark in close formation, setting up for the tight reach to Orakei Buoy.
But just after the bear-away, a strong gust hit Monkeywrench, sending Eli and Blake careening down into the mine. This mishap would later earn them the Underall Miners Trophy. Realising that race would be a discard, they made the quick decision to head back to the ramp, swap to a three-rig, and try to rejoin the fleet for the final race. Several other boats followed suit, though not all were as fortunate—ASCC (Graham Catley & Harry Butler) suffered a rig failure on the first downwind, snapping in two places.
With everything on the line in the final race, Eli and Blake knew a top-two finish would secure them the championship. Any slip-up would leave them at the mercy of the other results. But after a perfect start, the duo controlled the race from the front, finishing just five seconds ahead of the Australian Sail Inc. team.
Their victory, while an impressive achievement in its own right, held even deeper significance. This was Eli and Blake’s first regatta together, but it wasn’t the first time a Liefting/McGlashan combination had raced in the 12ft Skiff class.
Eli’s father and Blake’s uncle had raced together for years, and Blake’s grandfather, Don McGlashan, had won the Interdominion Championship 57 years earlier.
Don was there onshore to congratulate the pair, along with many of the “old boys” of the fleet, a touching reminder of how deeply the 12ft Skiff community is rooted in history and tradition. With an interdominion legacy spanning 62 years, the class has fostered a unique bond between countries and generations, and this victory was a perfect reflection of that enduring spirit.
A huge congratulations to all the sailors for completing such a challenging week of racing. Thank you to the Australian teams who made the journey across the ditch to sail with us Kiwis and for all the fun on and off the water.
A massive thank you to the incredible volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to making the event such a resounding success. We truly couldn’t have done it without you! From race management and 12ft Skiff rescue, to feeding and hydrating the sailors you were all fantastic.
We look forward to the 2026 12ft Skiff Interdominions, which will be held in Sydney next year.
For full results:
rayc.co.nz/sail-wave/2025_12ftskiff_Interdominion_results.htm
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