Continued 18ft Skiff Sixt Spring Championship & Club Championship
by Frank Quealey 22 Oct 19:43 PDT
27 October 2024
After enduring a punishing 20-25 knot southerly wind on Sydney Harbour last Sunday, the Australian 18 Footers League fleet is set to return to the waters again next Sunday for Race 2 of the Sixt Spring Championship and Mick Scully Memorial Trophy.
An early forecast predicts a more favorable 14 knots breeze from the north-east.
Regardless of the conditions, last Sunday’s impressive Race 1 winner, Rag & Famish Hotel (Harry Price, Max Paul, Finn Rodowicz), will face a tougher challenge over the 3-buoys course next Sunday, as she will have to concede at least a 2-minute start to every other boat in the fleet.
According to the series rules, every race winner incurs a 3-minute penalty for the next race. The second-place finisher faces a 2-minute penalty, while the third-place finisher incurs a 1-minute penalty.
This system has been in place throughout the 90-year history of 18 footer racing at the League and aims to provide a ‘winning chance’ for EVERY boat in the fleet, provided each performs according to its designated handicap.
The combination of action, spectacle, and competitive racing has made the 18s a spectator-friendly class for over 130 years, and current League administrators are committed to maintaining this tradition.
Additionally, there is NO discard rule in the Sixt Spring Championship.
Given the performances observed in Race 1, predicting the likely outcomes for most teams next Sunday is tricky, but several teams showed promising signs despite their final standings.
Two standout teams, Lazarus (Tom Cunich) and Vaikobi (Kirk Mitchell), demonstrated impressive performances and will be competitive, though they must also navigate their respective handicap penalties for finishing second and third last Sunday.
Other teams that showed potential to win include Burrawang-Young Henrys (Simon Nearn), Balmain (Henry Larkings), Smeg (Nathan McNamara), and the new The Kitchen Maker (Lachlan Steel).
A formidable contender is the defending champion Sixt team, led by 17-year-old Jacob Maarks, who is set to join Alex Marinelli and Matt Doyle on Sunday after missing Race 1 due to completing his HSC college exams.
Balmain’s skipper, Henry Larkings, reflected on last Sunday’s race, stating, “It was a tough first week for us, with strong winds and only our second outing together as a team.”
“We have welcomed a new member, Tom Grimes, to the team. We are eager to explore this new combination and benefit from Tom’s match racing expertise.”
Looking ahead beyond the Spring Championship, “The calendar looks fantastic this year, especially with the Australian Championship in Queensland. We are excited about traveling with the fleet for more open water racing.”
“Moreover, we are thrilled to partner again with Balmain. Their sustained support is remarkable. It’s amazing to have a sponsor who regularly comes to the club to watch us race.”
Henry specifically requested that I include this remark. “Interestingly, it seems that even the ladies in the boat park are supporting orange. Last Sunday, while rigging the boat, one even asked for Flynn’s number and a ride. This could explain Flynn’s distraction last weekend.”
There’s an added level of intrigue for the spectators on TV and those on the water, as the MarkSetBot robotic sailing buoys will be deployed as mark rounding buoys for the first time in a 3-buoys race.
These buoys are self-propelled and utilize GPS technology to pinpoint their location and maintain position without anchors until instructed to move.
They are expected to enhance future 3-buoys racing.
The club’s regular spectator ferry will trail Sunday’s race, departing Double Bay Public Wharf at 2pm, and SailMedia will livestream all the action for those unable to board the ferry.
