Final showdown
Tech2's team of Jack Macartney, Charlie Wyatt and Lewis Brake became the 2021-22 NSW 18ft Skiff champion when they dominated the fleet to win the final race (Race 8) of the series on Sydney Harbour.
Written by Frank Quealey
31 January 2022
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After trailing the leader Noakesailing over the first two legs of the course, the Tech2 team showed its superior downwind boatspeed to grab the lead at the bottom mark on the first lap and from that point was never really in danger of defeat.
At the end of the three-lap north-east course, Tech2 crossed the finish line 1m13s ahead of Noakesailing (Sean Langman, Ed Powys, Josh Porebski), with Andoo (Dave Gilmour, Matt Stenta, Sam Newton) a further 2m40s back in third place.
Yandoo (John Winning), which led the championship going into today’s race, was just 3s further back in fourth place, ahead of The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines (Aron Everett) and Shaw and Partners Financial Services (Steve Thomas)
Tech2 finished with a total of 16 points in the championship, ahead of Yandoo on 18, Noakesailing on 30, Shaw and Partners Financial Services on 40, and Rag & Famish Hotel (Harry Price) and Fisher & Paykel (Jordan Girdis) on 49.
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With the championship on the line between Yandoo and Tech2, the final race was sailed in a 10-knot north-east breeze and produced a close battle between the two teams over the first triangular lap of the course.
Sean Langman’s Noakesailing was in the thick of the battle as well and when the leaders reached the windward mark at the Beashel Buoy, Noakesailing was a narrow 10s leaders over Tech2 with Yandoo a similar distance back in third place.
The spinnaker run to the wing mark off Shark Island was just as tight as the three teams battled the light wind going into Rose Bay. Tech2 had reduced the margin down to 6s and was beginning to show her downwind speed as the trio gybed and set out for the next spinnaker leg between Shark and Clark Islands.
Andoo was holding a clear fourth place at the wing mark, followed by Shaw and Partners, The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines, Balmain Slake (Henry Larkings) and Smeg (Michael Coxon).
Tech2 finally grabbed the lead on the third leg and at the bottom mark off Clark Island had edged 7s ahead of Noakesailing. Yandoo had lost a little ground but was still in third place as her nearest rival, Andoo, capsized on approach to the mark.
The following windward beat back to the Beashel Buoy was decisive as Tech2 powered away from her opposition to establish a 23s break over Noakesailing and a championship-winning break of 1m10s over Yandoo.
Shaw and Partners was fourth, two-and-a-half minutes behind the leader, followed by Andoo and The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines.
Once again, Tech2 was dominating with her downwind speed and her lead was now out to around 40s as the fleet headed out on the final triangle lap of the course.
Tech2’s victory was a great final build up for the team as they attempt to win their third consecutive Australian 18ft Skiff Championship, which begins next Saturday on Sydney Harbour.
The 100th Australian Championship will begin next weekend.
Race dates are:
Saturday February 5 Race 1
Sunday February 6 Races 2 & 3
Monday February 7 Races 4 & 5
Sunday February 13 Races 6 & 7
Spectators can follow the racing on board the club’s spectator ferry, however due to the COVID-19 policy, numbers are limited. Book online through the club’s website.
For those unable to make it out onto the water, the club’s live broadcast team will be on Sydney Harbour to capture all the action. Live streaming is available online by clicking on the ’18 Footers TV’ link.
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