A Weekend of High Drama at the NSW 16ft Skiff Championship
Has there ever been a more dramatic conclusion to a NSW 16ft Skiff Championship in its 118-year history? The thrilling final weekend at Manly saw protests, storms, and an abandoned race that kept competitors and spectators on edge. After a nerve-wracking two-hour wait, Manly’s Red Pumps (Tyler Dransfield) emerged victorious, with Modern Concept Constructions (Kurt Hansen) and Moonen Yachts (Daniel Turner) taking second and third places, respectively.
“We had no idea who had won. Everyone speculated, but I didn’t crunch any numbers,” Dransfield said as he celebrated with crewmates Greg Windust and Jay Harris. “It was stressful. People said we’d won, but I didn’t want to jinx it. I actually thought Moonen had it because they beat us in most races.”
Challenges That Defined the Championship
The series threw up a host of challenges that tested race officials and sailors alike. Heavy shipping traffic during an environmental protest canceled two heats at Port Hunter last month. This left just four heats to decide the championship, but the weather had other plans.
On Sunday, a menacing southerly storm forced officials to abandon heat five. Adding to the chaos, an overnight protest between Imagine Signage (Nathan Wilmot) and Bosker Build (Sarah Lee) resulted in both boats being disqualified. With no fifth race, competitors could not discard their worst results, leading to intense pressure on every tally.
Red Pumps finished with a sixth at Port Hunter, followed by a second, 11th, and third at Manly. This performance secured Dransfield’s second state title in two years. “I woke up Sunday knowing we had a chance,” he said. “Greg and Jay’s experience is invaluable—they make my job easy.”
Handicap Division and Final Results
In the handicap division, St George entrant TTR Civil (Phil Bower) claimed first place, with Manly’s Fire Stopping (Alex Hart) in second and IGT (Arthur Bell) from Belmont finishing third.
This unforgettable championship weekend underscored the resilience and skill of the skiff racing community, proving once again why the 16ft Skiff class remains a cornerstone of competitive sailing.
RESULTS | https://ty.skiffs.org.au/202425/NSW16States/series.htm…
WORDS | Adam Lucius
IMAGES | Sally Darmanin and SailMedia
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