16ft skiffs to take part in the Squaddy Brass Monkey Regatta

16 Footers - the Silent Achievers

Australia’s dinghy sailing scene has long been dominated in speed and development by various skiff classes.

The 16 footers have underpinned the dramatic and demanding front end of dinghy sailing with a skiff class that has a solid platform based on unparalleled administration and club support, sensible design and development rules, and a large base of talented sailors and class stalwarts.

Unlike the 49ers with the Olympic status, and the 18s and their media attention around events like to recent Grand Prix and the current JJ Giltinan titles, the 16 footers have made their way with simple quiet achievements.

Looking today at the 16 footers shows a skiff class that is probably the strongest of all. The class can boast over 130 boats racing in Australia spread mainly between New South Wales and Queensland, but with recent showings in Western Australia and Tasmania.

130 boats is no mean feat, and makes for dramatic mark rounding’s at the class’s National Titles. The class’s success can largely be attributed to an excellent association that typically makes sound decisions regarding rig, sail and hull developments which encourage a balance between speed developments, and the fairness of a strong competition.

The class is also supported by a strong club structure. There are seven clubs in New South Wales, and three or four in Queensland that host the 16s. All of these clubs contribute to the class and their future, ensuring good numbers and great racing. At the class’s last big peak in the mid 70’s these clubs managed to field about 450 skiffs around Australia.

More information about the class can be found on the National Association’s website at http://www.skiffs.org.au/.

The strong competition the 16s offer has contributed greatly to Australia’s sailing stocks. Big names in racing such as Iian Murray, Trevor Barnabas and Peter Sorenson all have spent time in the class at some point. Peter Sorenson recently made a comeback to Skiff racing, and the Middle Harbour 16ft Skiff Club is still hosting Peter’s wife Marilyn Sorenson as a regular and fast competitor in her own right.

More recently the class is proud to have hosted Olympians such as Greg Hyde, Chris Nicholson and Gary Boyd. Current class stalwart Bruce Savage had represented Spain at the Barcelona Olympics.

Competitors like Bruce Savage are expected to appear with their 16s at the Sydney Flying Squadron’s Brass Monkey Regatta in late August, and will give most of the other Skiffs a good run for their money. A lot of the 16s are crewed by highly talented sailors and boats are in excellent condition.

Class stalwart and administrator Michael McMahon is of the opinion that if guys like Peter Hubble race, they will be able to beat most of the Skiffs including the 49er and some of the slower 18 footer crews.

Peter Hubble has spent 20 years in the class and the combination of that much hard work, mixed with sailing talent and a good boat is hard to beat. This is evident given that Peter Hubble won the last 16s National Championship, with Lee Knapton and Keagan York in his team.

The other dark horse for the Squaddy Brass Monkey Regatta is the 13ft Skiff. This is an exciting class for the future of Skiff sailing and is strongly supported by the 16 footer class and club.

A rough guess places the 13ft Skiff as being quicker than the 29er and Cherub. The 13s are making some modifications during the off season with the implementation of a carbon mast, a masthead spinnaker and slight increase in mast height (100mm) and mainsail size.

This should give them a bit more of an edge. The 13 footer has beaten both 29er and Cherub at the CHS Regatta at Belmont over the past few seasons.

Parents should not be frightened off by the carbon masts etc, as experience in other Skiff classes shows that whilst the carbon masts might be dearer to buy up front, they offer a longer life span and better value for money.

Organisers of the Squaddy Brass Monkey Regatta are looking forward to seeing the new 13s at the regatta as it will show people coming down a big part of the future for intermediate sailing in Australia.

Luckily for sailors of these classes they will have opportunity to win a Skiff Course with Dinghy Solutions Sailing School, which will help sailors fast track their skills.

Grown Ups in the 16s will have opportunity to win great prizes from the Sydney Flying Squadron and Southcorp Wines who have also come onboard as a sponsor of the event.

For more information about the regatta, go to nsw.i14australia.org/sfs