The Slow and Silly Season
With the sailing season now well and truly over, the shake up of skiffs and crews has begun, and the rumour mill is growing nicely. Remember never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
Abbotsford 12ft Flying Squadron
After a disappointing
2007-08 Season which saw no Abbotsford Skiffs participate in the Australian
titles, the boys up the river are looking to make there presence felt in the
coming season with a bolstering of the fleet in not only quantity but qualitly.
Matt Peat in BAYS is hoping to make a welcome return to full time racing.
Currently in negotiations to sign a fresh crew, he is well into preparations
for the coming summer.
The Blockbuster skiff is also rumoured to be making a welcome return to Sydney
in the hands of the Hill clan. This should be a good acquisition as it has
always been a competitive boat. The Hill Clans other skiff 24/7 Pest control
an inconsistent but always competitive stater last season in hoping to be
a regular in 2008/09. Spending the last few seasons mastering the art of keeping
a young family and work happy, the rubber suit and salt water will be a welcome
distraction.
Jakub Ronowicz and Chris Urquhart with there skiff Breaking Wind will be sporting
some new gear this season. With some consistent time on the water Jakub and
Chris are capable of cause a few surprises.
H0LT and Twin Paradox are two more skiffs who we hope will make a resurgence
in the 2008/09 season.
With 4-5 regular's Abbotsford is set for a strong club season hopefully this
will mean some strong performances in the Championship Regatta's.
Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club
Lane Cove was
once again the strongest 12ft skiff Club racing with not only a strong home
fleet but often getting visitors from the Sydney Flying Squadron testing themselves
on the river. Gemmell Sails campaigned by Murray Press and Ben Gemmell continue
to show the way around the often tricky Lane Cove courses. They will be sure
to put in another strong performance this coming season with a seemingly never
ending sail wardrobe and rig development.
One skiff that will be doing there best to keep the Gemmell Sails team honest
is Maersk with Michael Spies and Damien Vlotman having recently purchase this
top class boat. This already competitive crew will most certainly sail to
the next level and constantly challenge the top teams. Spies and Vlotman's
previous skiff, Sirromet, is currently on the market and would be a great
pickup as it is still a very competitive package.
On a sadder note Andrew Stevenson
has parted ways with the Bainbridge team. Andrew is going into early retirement,
and Brad is currently running his own reality TV series "So you think you
can steer" Auditioning Adam Forbes (ex Cherub guru) and James Moor (ex 12ft
skiff National champion and more recently becoming a Father). Look forward
to seeing Brad and the Bainbridge team back on the water stronger than ever.
Billy Olsen, a great character, is also another big loss to the Class, sailing
his Kiroshi to David Cleworth. We hope to see Billy back in the class sooner
rather than later.
The Yabba Dabba team is hoping
to be a more regular competitor this season. Nick Press and Brad Yabsley are
always competitive although young babies and the lure of hollywood park may
restrict their time spent in the 12.
James Francis and Brad Phillips on the radical Steve Jarvin Motors will again
be part time with other, less enjoyable commitments (18ft skiff sailing).
This is a shame, as there skiff looked to be hitting some form during the
recent Nationals championships at Lane Cove.
The Pink team of Nick Bernard and Andrew O'Brien have purchased a previous
Interdominon winning hull Gob Smack Dwarfs from Paul O'Malley- Jones. Nick
and Andrew will be a force to be reckoned with this season getting the hull
to match there super quick rigs. Andrew has also Purchased Exaqua from Bill
Oxby which he will begin to campaign as the season gets on.
SnotBloo Dave Winning has spent some time refurbishing their skiff and is
hoping for a boost this coming season. Consistent time on the water will see
the biggest improvement in this team.
The Pennyliss skiff is in the market for a crew with Will Oxby taking of to
Perth and Ian Goodman taking control of the skiff.
www.skiff.org.au Ben Faulkner and Renn Holland are planning to take a more
casual approach to the coming season. Rumour has is all the training on and
off the water was taking its toll on this highly professional outfit.
Vantage Real-estate, Hood Sail's and Mischief are all expected to continue
as programme making for another strong season for the Lane Cove club.
Sydney Flying Squadron
Scott Hobson returns
to Australian shores for the upcoming season after spending last season enjoying
a white powdery substance. The Garde Geotherm skipper has some new masts under
construction but is still in the market for a crew. This always competitive
Skiff with be a boost for the Sydney Flying Squadron fleet.
Thistle Hill Wines Richard Johns (not Jones) and Matt Unit Killoran have been
talking of a new hull but seems as though the old one will be getting a birthday.
Hopefully this will propel this talented combo toward the pointy end of the
fleet.
David Cleworth having purchased Kiroshi will make another step up the fleet
after putting in an impressive performance in the recent National titles.
Space Junk Clewy's previous skiff is also up for sail with rumour going around
that Rob Bell (Current 18ft Skiff world Champion sheet hand) is in negotiations
to purchase it. Fingers crossed there is more fact than fiction in the rumour
as Rob would be a very welcome addition to the 12ft skiff fleet.
The current National champion skiff Garde Brett Hobson and Alex Johnson will
no doubt be the ones to beat again in 2008/09.
O Jono (the Bionic man) Temple and Richard Jones will be there to take on
any challenger, there consistent racing is a bench mark for the class and
are always tough to beat.
Gizmo are very consistent performers and hopefully will be a regular started
at the SFS.
Dipolar Ed Blackman and Paul Carpenter have a few season's under there belt
and are looking add to some impressive performances with the addition of some
new sails.
With Ed Cox selling his Skiff Maersk and purchasing a Flying Dutchman, there
is just no understanding of some things in life. The Squady fleet will lose
some strength but as always will be a strong club.
Skiff-Ed