Australian titles
25th, 26th, 27th, 28th March
Multihull Yacht Club, Brisbane Queensland
Heat One - A good Big-Rig Sou-Easter and warm water greeted the 19 boat fleet for the beginning of the 70th 12ft Skiff Nationals. Quite a few sailors were reminded just how narrow the channel was on the way out to the start and then, just how quick Nick and Yabbs in Yabba Dabba are at the top end of big sail. The win was even more impressive considering Brad had undergone a gruelling session with his sports psychologist (why do you spend so much money on boats Yabs?) and Nick had undertaken the drive up next to Unit and his Delta Goodrem cds.
Young up and comers Brett Hobson and Brad Phillips sailed a tiger like race to put the Garde into second ahead of Michael Bochner and Arnie Craig in third. The race will be remembered though for the almost perfect nose-dive from young up and downers Dodgy and Heidi Winning, who managed to take a core sample of the bay floor and hold the pose for long enough for almost everyone to see.
Heat Two - Heats two and three were sailed in a "sweet" third (or those three and half rigs people have lying about in there trailers) rig on a lumpy sea. In heat 2, the lead changed time and time again but it was Boc and Arnie's almost mystical ability to drive the Gizmo in the fresh stuff that saw them take the win. The Yabba Dabba crossed the line a mere 8 seconds behind, in front of Johnno and Rich in P&O.
Heat Three - The last work of heat two had gone a bit soft but by the time heat three got started, the breeze was back. Unfortunately everyone was over the line, so we had to start it again.
And then again.
Luckily the breeze was still piping when we finally got away. Boc and Arnie again turned on the pace to take the win from Brett and Brad in Garde. Johnno and Rich were third. The race wasn't so good for Australian Sailing's newest centrefolds Nick and Yabs, who saw their vang blow up to record a DNF. It was also a shocker for Jim Walsh and Pauly Evans in Woof, who broke a multitude of things to finish, well, in the tide.
Heat Four - It was coming. A midday start and a soft breeze for Heat Four. It was the setting though, for a little bit of a fairy tale. Three months ago, a motor launch being steered by a complete nonce, ploughed through young Jamie Francis and Scott Hobson in Havoc, causing a whole heap of damage. Maybe it was the ghost of the motor launch that chased Jamie and Scott round the course, maybe it was the special blend of an astute brain and an ability to sail the boat smooth that got them home, or maybe they just pulled it out their arse. I suppose it doesn't matter. All that matters is that Havoc won heat four from Garde and a resurrected Jim and Pauly in Woof.
Heat Five - As we sailed back out for, most of the fleet were focused … … on the pizza and band night planned at the club that evening. Michael Bochner and Arnie Craig had their eyes on a different prize though and put one hand on the trophy with a close win. Yabba Dabba kept the pressure on by scoring a second from Johnno and Rich in P&O.
Heat five and a half was on the dance floor and was won by Johnno from P&O, who again suffered some rig damage to his feet. Big thanks to the band known only as "Brendan's Band" who belted out some top tunes.
A man who was a DNS on the dance floor was 12ft skiff veteran Peter "Wolfie" Polec, who only gets a mention because it was his birthday. He celebrated by putting some rum into his coke.
Heat Six - The mathematicians were out before the start of the last race, with plenty still up for grabs. In the main event, the Gizmo had to finish about forth to ensure the win. In the veterans, birthday boy Peter Polec had to out-fox the wily Jack Winning and Brett Phillips in Vantage, with only one point separating the two Lane Cove boats. In the juniors, Lachie Paramor and Rob Bell in Blockbuster had a similar margin over Dave and Heidi Winning in Snotblue.
Nick and Brad knew they had to win the race to heap some pressure back on the Gizmo and they did just that. Garde managed to cap off a great series by squeezing into second, and ensuring a podium finish for the series. The Gizmo crossed the line in third, ensuring the series win.
Peter Polec and Ben Faulkner wound up the Foxy Lady Too for the last race to take the veterans and Lachie and Rob in Blockbuster crossed the line 20 seconds in front of the Winnings in Snotblue to take out the Juniors. Dave and Heidi could still celebrate though, taking a win in the overall handicap.
HUGE THANK YOUS.
The whole regatta was a huge success, thanks mostly to the efforts of some
hard working volunteers.
Jack Grant
Gary and Christine Hobson
Christine Reid
The O'Malley-Jones' family
Terry Ellis