18ft Skiffs: Sixt Spring Championship, Race 2
by Frank Quealey 27 Oct 01:10 PDT
Race 2 of the 2024 Sixt Spring 18 footer Championship was held today by the Australian 18 Footers League on Sydney Harbour, where 16 club teams faced the starting gun in an 8-12 knot north-east wind, offering significantly more favorable racing conditions compared to the 22+-knots southerly winds that hit the fleet during Race 1 last Sunday.
The race met expectations and maintained spectator interest until the end, with multiple lead changes throughout the course as the handicap system came into play on each of the three rounds.
Exceptional downwind speed and efficient teamwork throughout the race proved successful for the Vaikobi team of Kirk Mitchell, Andrew Stephenson, and Daniel Barnett, who crossed the finish line 27 seconds ahead of early leader Smeg (Nathan McNamara, Jed Cruikshank, and Jack Taylor).
Balmain (Henry Larkings, Miles Davey, and Flynn Twomey) recovered from seventh place by the end of the second lap, demonstrating impressive downwind performance to secure third place, finishing 31 seconds after Smeg.
Finport Finance (Keagan York) placed fourth, followed by Rag & Famish Hotel (Harry Price), Burrawang-Young Henrys (Simon Nearn), Yandoo (John Winning), Sixt (Jacob Marks), and The Kitchen Maker (Lachlan Steel).
After the first two races in the six-race series, Vaikobi (4 points) holds a slim lead over last week’s winner Rag & Famish Hotel with 6 points, followed by Balmain with 8, Burrawang-Young Henrys with 10, Sixt with 14, The Kitchen Maker with 16, Smeg with 18, Lazarus (Tom Cunich) with 19, Finport Finance with 20, and Yandoo with 23 points.
There is NO DISCARD in this series.
Smeg gained a slight lead over Vaikobi shortly after the start, with the race for the frontrunners heading toward the windward mark being tightly contested as Rag & Famish Hotel and Yandoo advanced through the pack alongside Lazarus.
Rag seized the lead from Smeg as the fleet approached the windward marks for the first time, but The Rag had to round further (to the ‘red’ mark), resulting in Smeg leading by 40 seconds over Lazarus (who rounded the ‘blue’ mark) as spinnakers were deployed for the run toward the wing mark south of Shark Island.
Sixt had also charged forward and was sitting in third place, ahead of Rag & Famish Hotel and Finport Finance.
Smeg maintained a solid lead over Lazarus as the fleet rounded Shark Island and headed toward the bottom mark near Clark Island. Vaikobi showcased its excellent downwind speed and began closing in on the leaders.
Just as it appeared the positions were solidified as the fleet neared the bottom mark, the race took a surprising turn when Smeg and Sixt went to the incorrect rounding mark.
The Lazarus team quickly capitalized on the situation, taking the lead from Smeg as both headed back to the windward marker buoys at Beashel Buoy, gaining a 30-second lead as spinnakers were set again for the run back to Clark Island.
Shortly after, the lead changed again as Lazarus capsized, allowing Smeg to regain control, this time with a 20-second lead over Vaikobi, followed by Finport Finance, Yandoo, Burrawang-Young Henrys, Rag & Famish Hotel, and Sixt.
Smeg held onto its lead during the lengthy spinnaker run, with Vaikobi now just 5 seconds behind, putting pressure on the Smeg team. Finport Finance trailed 20 seconds behind but was gaining ground, while the two leaders maintained their resolve as the trio approached the last set of marker buoys.
Smeg and Vaikobi both aimed for the ‘white’ buoy and had an advantage over Finport Finance and The Rag, which had to round the ‘red’ mark. Burrawang-Young Henrys was racing consistently and remained among the top six, with a slight edge as they approached the ‘blue’ (shorter) mark on this lap.
As Vaikobi headed for home under spinnaker, boasting a 12-second lead over Smeg, they were in an advantageous position and executed another swift run for a remarkable victory.
The MarkSetBot automated sailing buoys system was utilized for the first time in a three-buoy 18 footer race on Sydney Harbour today and was seen as a success, providing enhanced handicap accuracy for the entire fleet.
Next Sunday, the Australian 18 Footers League will hold Race 2 of the Club Championship along with Race 3 of the Sixt Spring Championship for the Eric Bowen Memorial Trophy.
The Club’s regular spectator ferry will shadow the race, departing Double Bay Public Wharf at 2 PM, while SailMedia will livestream all the action.
