The Rag & Famish Hotel team of Harry Price, Max Paul and Finn Rodowicz wrapped up the 2024 Sixt Spring 18ft skiff Championship, which concluded on Sydney Harbour today.
The Rag, with Josh Porebski standing in for regular skipper Harry Price, had to give big starts to most of the fleet and had to settle for finishing in fifth place in today’s final race of the series, but held an almost unbeatable lead going into the race and, with a final total of 15 points, took overall honours by a clear margin of 12 points.
Today’s race winner Balmain (Henry Larkings, Tom Grimes and Flynn Twomey) finished second overall with a total of 27 points, ahead of Vaikobi (Kirk Mitchell, Andrew Stephenson and Daniel Barnett) on 34 points in third place. Fourth place went to Yandoo (Micah Lane) on 35, followed by The Kitchen Maker (Lachlan Steel) on 36 and Burrawang-Young Henrys (Simon Nearn) on 39 points.
In today’s race, Balmain’s team put on a polished performance to score an impressive 2mins win over Smeg (Nathan McNamara, Jed Cruikshank and Jack Taylor), with Finport Finance (Brett Van Munster, Mike McKensey and Phil Marshall) a further 14s back in third place.
Lazarus (Tom Cunich) was a close fourth, followed by Rag & Famish Hotel, The Kitchen Maker, Burrawang-Young Henrys, Yandoo, Shaw and Partners Financial Services (Emma Rankin), Vaikobi, Noakes (Bec Hancock) and Team Will (William Dargaville).
The race began in a moderate north-east breeze and produced a close battle between the leading 5-6 boats as the fleet headed from the start off Clark Island to the first set of 3-buoys near the Beashel Buoy.
Yandoo led the fleet, ahead of Marine Outlet (John Cooley), as they approached the marks but, when Yandoo had to sail to the further white mark, it was Marine Outlet which led the pack as spinnakers were set for the run to the wing mark off Shark Island.
Marine Outlet’s crew were spectacular on the run, particularly along Shark Island, and led by 15s from Smeg and Balmain, which had fought a tight battle for the entire leg. Lazarus was in fourth place, ahead of Finport Finance and Sixt (Jacob Marks).
Yandoo had capsized on the run and fell back through the fleet.
At the bottom to end the first lap of the course, Marine Outlet held a 15s lead from Smeg and Balmain while the next three placings also remained unchanged from those at the wing mark.
After giving handicap starts to the rest of the fleet, Rag & Famish Hotel sailed with her normal downwind speed to move into seventh place and tighten her grip on the overall championship.
Marine Outlet continued to sail beautifully on the following windward leg and maintained her 15s advantage over Balmain as the pair raced back down the centre of the course, under spinnaker, to the bottom mark off Clark Island.
Disaster struck Marine Outlet as she approached the mark following interference from a power boat and the crew were forced to retire and head for home.
With Balmain starting to dominate in the conditions over the final lap of the course, the centre of spectator interest focused on the battle for the minor placings which developed between Smeg, Lazarus and Finport Finance.
The three crews gave a fine exhibition as they raced home between Shark Island and Clark Island with just a few seconds between them, with Smeg hanging on to finish just 14s ahead of Finport Finance and Lazarus another 9s further back in fourth place.
Races 1 and 2 of the NSW Championship will be sailed next Sunday, 1 December. The club’s spectator ferry will follow the race, leaving Double Bay Public Wharf at 2pm.
SailMedia will livestream all the action.
Frank Quealey
Australian 18 Footers League Ltd.
18ft Skiffs
Sixt Spring Championship, Race 6
Series Trophy: Yandoo Trophy
Race sponsor: Sixt
Sunday, 24 November 2024
Sydney Harbour
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