The Finport Finance team of Keagan York, Angus Williams and Phil Marshall became the 2022-23 Australian 18ft Skiff champion after a controversial day when no racing was completed on Sydney Harbour today.

When racing was abandoned today, the championship then reverted to a four-race regatta and, under the sailing instructions of the championship, each team’s worst performance could no longer be discarded and the four races sailed all had to be counted.

Finport Finance finished with a total of 10 points from the four races, followed by Smeg (Michael Coxon, Ricky Bridge, Tom Anderson) on 14.

Third placed Lazarus (Marcus Ashley-Jones, Rob Bell, Jeronimo Harrison) also finished on 14 points but Smeg took second place on a count-back.

Andoo (John Winning Jr, Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton) won two of the four races but was forced to include one of her seventh placings earlier in the regatta and finished fourth on 16, followed by Yandoo (John Winning, Fang Warren, Josh Porebski) 23 and Shaw and Partners Financial Services (Jim Colley, Max Paul, Tom Quigley) on 27.

It was an unfortunate situation, as going into today’s final two races there were only five points (net) separating the top four teams and consistency was going to be essential as each of the four teams had one placing that they wanted to discard from an earlier race.

What could have been an exciting conclusion to the regatta, as four of the best 18 footer teams in the world battled for the title, was marred by the lack of wind which caused a one hour delay to start the day’s racing, then the forced abandonment midway through the race.

Next week the Australian 18 Footers League will stage two events. The Supercup (Friday, 3 February 3) and the next heat of the Club Championship, on Sunday, February 5.

Spectators can follow both day’s action on board the club’s spectator ferry, as they have done for the past 87 years, which leaves Double Bay Wharf alongside the clubhouse at 2pm.

Booking online through the club’s website www.18footers.com is essential, 18footers.com/18-footer-racing/spectator-ferry

For anyone who can’t make it out onto the water, the League’s live broadcast team will be out on Sydney Harbour to capture all the action. Live streaming is available at www.18footers.com by clicking on the ’18 Footers TV’ link.

Overall Results:

by Frank Quealey