Brutal gusts cancel 18 Footer’s opening race

Yacht in trouble with 12ft skiff Gizmo in distance. Photo courtesy of Glen Stanaway

On the weekend, the Sydney Flying Squadron had no option but to cancel the 18 foot skiff’s opening race of the season. With gusts on Saturday afternoon reaching in excess of 35 knots, the club decided that competitor safety and minimizing damage should be the highest priority.

It was an unfortunate and premature finish to the afternoon’s proceedings for many. The club’s rigging lawn held a carnival atmosphere early in the day as the 18 footers dominated the scene.

North Sydney Council’s Mayor, Genia McCaffery generously attended the day and officially opened the season, congratulating the club on its growth and importance to the harbour side culture of Sydney’s lower north shore. Also as part of the opening ceremony the Sydney Flying Squadron’s president John “Steamer” Stanley spoke of an exciting year for the club.

In more recent times John Stanley is possibly more famous for his experiences on the Winston Churchill in the devastating Sydney Hobart yacht race of 1998. However Steamer has been a stalwart of skiff sailing in Sydney for many decades and it was appropriate that someone with so much history at the SFS would play such a significant role in its future.

The Race Committee held the competitors briefing and Principle Race Officer, David Speck after consulting the Bureau of Meteorology’s weather observations declared the 18 footers race cancelled.

Just as Falstaff uttered that famous dictum that "The better part of valor is discretion" novice 18 footer skippers Michael McKensey (Macquarie Bank) and Michael Rynan (Avaya) agreed that the first race of the season is no time for unnecessary bravado.

Whilst most of the 18 footers focused on further preparation for the season tuning rigs and checking maintenance, Ian Pretty on Churchill’s Sports Bar decided to venture onto the harbour for a training session. Pretty showed some impressive speeds and handling skills in the harsh conditions, but had to be towed home after the skiff’s mast broke.

Two 12 foot skiffs also went out and put on a similarly spectacular display of high speed sailing in between equally spectacular capsizes. Australian champion Michael Bochner on Gizmo, and class president Brett Hobson managed to avoid any major gear breakage.

True to the tradition of skiff sailing which they represent, the Historic 18 Footers raced regardless of the brutal gusts on the harbour, and handled the conditions well. SFS Commodore Rob “Angry” Tearne’s Abadere was skippered by Michael Van Stom and dominated the racing from the start.

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