Nossiter wins Finns
Anthony Nossiter has won the 2026 Finn NSW Championship by one point after a strong final-day performance on Pittwater.
Photography by Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
28 October 2026
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Representing host club Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC), Nossiter won two of the final three races to secure the Finn NSW title with 13 points, ahead of clubmate Ian McKillop on 14.
The triple Olympian began the final day fifth overall but climbed the standings with victories in Races 4 and 5, followed by fifth in Race 6. Completing six races allowed competitors to discard their worst result, enabling Nossiter to drop his opening-day ninth.
“Sailing the boat through the water should be automatic for me, but I was a bit rusty … I was fortunate to win,” Nossiter said.
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Nineteen sailors from NSW, Victoria and Queensland contested the championship, organised by RPAYC in conjunction with the NSW Finn Class Association.
Shifty north-westerly winds tested the fleet on the final day, with close finishes leaving little room for error. Nossiter beat Marcus Whitley by 17 seconds in Race 4, with Richie Robertson another 14 seconds behind.
Race 5 was tighter still. Nossiter crossed just one second ahead of McKillop, who finished one second clear of Matt Visser.
McKillop’s fourth, second and first on the final day lifted the four-time NSW champion to second overall after discarding an 11th from the opening race.
The first two races were tricky today. It’s always tough sailing at Pittwater in a nor’wester,” McKillop said.
He was pleased with his recovery after rounding the wrong mark on the opening day.
“It was my own fault and I can’t change it, but I kept chipping away today.”
McKillop won the final race by 36 seconds from Visser, with Whitley another six seconds back. An earlier attempt to sail that race was abandoned following a major wind change, prompting Race Officer Elaine Fowler to reset the course for a north to north-easterly breeze.
Victorian Lewis Davies, who led after the opening day, finished third overall on 17 points. Whitley placed fourth, ahead of Chris Links on a countback, with both finishing on 19 points.
Sam Ede finished seventh overall and won the under-30 title. His best result was third in the opening race, and he also finished ahead of his father Tim, who placed 11th.
Many competitors are preparing for the Finn Australian Championship off Eden in February 2027. Nossiter will miss the event because of a commitment to drive a rescue/chase boat at SailGP in Perth.
Before then, both Nossiter and McKillop are preparing for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, aboard LOYAL and Back 2 Black respectively.
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