Allwood Sails on race winning 18 foot skiff

Posted on Monday, 3 December 2012 by Cam

Shane Smith’s Winning Appliances from the Brisbane 18 Foot Sailing Club visited Sydney and won the 18 foot skiff 3-buoys race using working gear from Allwood Sails.

Please call Joel at the loft if you want buy or inquire about custom made skiff sails.

18 foot skiff racing

Posted on Sunday, 2 December 2012 by Cam

18ft Skiffs
AEG 3-Buoys Challenge, Race 7
Sunday, 2 December 2012
Sydney Harbour

Jonathan Whitty’s Panasonic-sponsored Lumix became the seventh winner from as many races in the series when she won Race 7 of the 18ft Skiffs AEG 3-Buoys Challenge on Sydney Harbour today.

After a moderate start, Whitty and his Lumix team of James Hozack and Archie Massey moved through the fleet to take the lead on the second lap of the four-lap windward-leeward course.

Lumix crossed the finish line 39s ahead of second placed Asko Appliances (Marcus Ashley-Jones, Ash Rooklyn and Geronimo Harrison), with De’Longhi-Rabbitohs (Simon Nearn, Keegan York and James Smithers) just 7s back in third place.

With the last race of the Challenge to be sailed next Sunday, Pure Blonde (Tom Clout, Rob Bell and Matt Wark) leads the points on 28, followed by Asko Appliances on 33, Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (Michael Coxon) on 34, Mojo Wine (James Dorron) 37, Fisher & Paykel (Andrew Chapman) 40 and Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin) 43.

Today’s race was sailed in a moderate SE breeze with the fleet split between the choice of #1 and #2 rigs.

The start played a critical part in the race as three teams were disqualified for OCSs, while three others returned “just in case”

Biggest loser from the incident was Coopers-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney) which sailed on in the race oblivious of being disqualified.

The Rag actually led the race for the first two laps before crossing the finish line in seemingly second place.

There was little hard work on the windward legs and the entire race took just 46m58s to complete.

Thurlow Fisher Lawyers took an early lead from Gotta Love It 7, which recovered brilliantly after going back at the start.

Coopers-Rag & Famish Hotel took advantage of the red buoy rounding to lead Haier Appliances (Pedro Vozone), Lomax Financial Group (Alexandra South) and Thurlow Fisher Lawyers as spinnakers were set for the run back to the bottom mark.

The Rag continued to lead the fleet over the second lap of the course although Lumix had reduced the margin to just 15s.

Third place was held by The Kitchen Maker, being sailed today by Olympic Gold Medalist Nathan Wilmot, who was replacing another Olympic Gold Medalist Malcolm Page.

Asko Appliances, De’Longhi-Rabbitohs, Haier Appliances, Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, Smeg (Nick Press) and Pure Blonde were in a group which produced some exciting downwind racing.

While Lumix’s win was clear cut, the race behind her saw seven boats finish within the next minute

The series has achieved the desired result of producing close racing and seven winners from seven races is proof of its success.

An interesting sidelight to the race today was the performance of Brisbane boat Winning Appliances (Shane Smith) which took line honours although only competing by invitation.

Six photos and today’s result sheet are attached.

More photos will be published later on http://www.18footers.com.au and http://www.flying18s.com. A video coverage of the race can be seen on http://www.18footerstv.com

Spectator Ferry photos will also be published on http://www.18footers.com.au and http://www.flying18s.com during the coming week.

Don’t forget ‘Pick the Podium’ again this season with prizes to be won by just making some selections on which teams you think will fill the placings in Sunday’s race. For full details go to http://www.18footerstv.com/18-promo

Race 8 (last for the series) of the AEG 3-Buoys Challenge will be sailed next Sunday with the Spectator Ferry leaving Double Bay Public Wharf at 2.15pm.

Frank Quealey
Australian 18 Footers League
http://www.18footers.com.au
http://www.flying18s.com
http://www.18footerstv.com

18ft Skiffs AEG 3-Buoys Challenge, Race 5

Posted on Sunday, 18 November 2012 by Cam

18ft Skiffs
AEG 3-Buoys Challenge, Race 5
Sunday, 11 November 2012
Sydney Harbour

A gusty 25-knot North East wind pounded the 18ft Skiff crews as they contested Race 5 of the AEG 3-Buoys Challenge series on Sydney Harbour today.

Conditions were so demanding on both boats and crews that only five of the 19 entries were able to complete the four-lap course and none, including the winner, avoided at least one capsize.

After nearly 1½ hours, former Australian champion Micah Lane, along with his crew of Paul Montague and Tom Anderson, crossed the finish line as winner in their Appliancesonline.com.au skiff.

It was 6m33s later until second placed The Kitchen Maker, skippered by Olympic Gold Medalist Malcolm Page, and crewed by Cameron McDonald and Darren McKavanagh, finished.

Nick Press and his crew of Dave Ewings and Andrew Stevenson were third in Smeg, 31s behind The Kitchen Maker.

The only other skiffs to complete the course were Pure Blonde (Tom Clout) and Coopers-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney).

Right from the outset, it was obvious that the conditions were going to take a heavy toll on the fleet.

Australian champion Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (Michael Coxon) was forced out after only a few minutes sailing then shortly after Giltinan champion Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin) was gone with a broken mast.

Coopers-Rag & Famish Hotel led at the first windward mark from Smeg but carnage struck behind them as both De’Longhi-Rabbitohs (Simon Nearn) and Asko Appliances (Marcus Ashley-Jones) nose dived on the bearaway.

Appliancesonline took advantage of the two capsized boats to move into third place, ahead of Pure Blonde, The Kitchen Maker and Rabbitohs-Kenwood (Brett Van Munster).

The spinnaker run proved too much for most boats as Coopers-Rag & Famish Hotel, Smeg, Rabbitohs-Kenwood and Yandoo (John Winning) all capsized before the bottom mark.

Over the second lap of the course Pure Blonde and The Kitchen Maker were well ahead of the other skiffs still on the course.

When Pure Blonde capsized on the gybe to the bottom mark The Kitchen Maker was left with a good lead, although Smeg had recovered and began to put in a strong challenge by the third windward marker.

A spinnaker set problem on The Kitchen Maker allowed Smeg to draw level on the following run back to Clarke Island and spectators were treated to a magnificent ‘match race’ between the two talented teams.

Only 5s separated the pair as they began the final lap of the course.

When The Kitchen Maker had her first swim of the day, Smeg was left as the likely winner – but this was not a day for taking things for granted.

With less than 100 metres to sail and only the final gybe to be made, Smeg capsized in the mouth of Double Bay, leaving Appliancesonline.com.au to complete the course as the winner.

Seven photos and today’s result sheet are attached.

More photos will be published later on http://www.18footers.com.au and http://www.flying18s.com. A video coverage of the race can be seen on http://www.18footerstv.com

Spectator Ferry photos will also be published on http://www.18footers.com.au and http://www.flying18s.com during the coming week.

Race 6 of the AEG 3-Buoys Challenge will be sailed next Sunday with the Spectator Ferry leaving Double Bay Public Wharf at 2.15pm.

Frank Quealey
Australian 18 Footers League
www.18footers.com.au
www.flying18s.com
www.18footerstv.com