History-making day for the League 18 footers
by Frank Quealey 7 Nov 2025 06:06 GMT
2 November 2025
Last Sunday's Australian 18 Footers League race created two history-making achievements when two female skippers won both races for the first time since the club began racing 18ft skiffs on Sydney Harbour in late 1935.
Australian SailGP tactician Tash Bryant skippered Yandoo to victory in the Club Championship and Bec Hancock skippered Sotheby's Ballard Property to victory in the Eric Bowen Memorial Trophy, which was sailed in conjunction with the club championship.
Tash became the first female to win a Club Championship race in the League's history and it is the first time in the history that two females have skippered winners on the same day.
Bec Hancock's win was well deserved. It was a reward for the hard work and determination she has put in over the past two seasons, working on the old boat and sailing with different crew each week.
With a regular crew and a better boat, she is able to show her ability.
It was a great bonus to Bec's and her Sotheby's Ballard Property crew, Cam Walker and Ed Swain, when they were placed third behind Yandoo and Shaw and Partners Financial Services at the first weather mark.
Bec was naturally happy with the performance. "It was totally unexpected and naturally we were excited and super happy. It shows our potential and how we can manage pressure."
"Now we want to maintain a strong position in the fleet."
Adding, "It's good for our morale as a crew and rewarding for all the training and hard work we've put in."
Bec has a proven record of not retiring from races, regardless of where her team is placed during a race, so a gear failure in Race 2 of the SIXT Spring series when the mainsail pulled out of the top of the mast, she would have finished in sixth place (only five other teams completed the course that day) and scored 6 points instead of 18 for a non-finish.
Had that not happened, Sotheby's Ballard Property would now have a total of 13 points in the series and be in second place behind Jacob Marks' Sixt team.
While Tash and Bec stole the limelight on Sunday, another female skipper, Emma Rankin (Club Marine) has proved to be one of the most consistent performers throughout the SIXT Spring series and is presently in second place overall, just four points behind the leader.
Club Marine is one of only five teams to complete the course in each race of the series.
Emma has won a world championship in the Formula 16 catamaran class as well as national championships in a variety of classes, and is a quietly determined competitor, despite lacking the usual size required for an 18 footer sailor. She is not overawed by competing against the world's top 18 footer sailors on Sydney Harbour each week and has proven herself in all conditions.
In Race 2 of the SIXT series, Club Marine was one of only five teams able to complete the course in North-East winds gusting to more than 20-knots.
It's a great effort by the team which is still sailing the old hull while waiting for the upgraded hull (formerly Finport Finance) to return from Italy.
According to the highly-competitive Emma "It was great to see the achievement of Tash and Bec last Sunday. After my team's performance at the latest JJs, finishing on the podium in race 6 and almost being in the position to win the race, it shifted everyone's thinking that it is no longer a matter of if but when for a female helm to win a race."
"It was a bit of a surprise to see our position on the leaderboard improve on Sunday, as I made some mediocre tactical calls that meant we were fighting to get back. The last few weeks have felt like we've been just holding on as we're in limbo like a lot of teams with the shipping delay. It's hard to be patient waiting for the new hull and not being able to make the improvements that we want."
"It's really a minor challenge however, compared to the 2024-25 season; I was determined this year that I wasn't going to return without a committed team. I started last year with no one on the crew list and, over the course of the season, sailed with 18 different people and only three times with the same crew, before Joel Turner stepped aboard for the JJ's."
"It was incredibly stressful but I learnt a lot about team dynamics, maintenance, rigging and running an 18ft skiff team. There's a lot involved before we get to the start line."
"I'm taking what I've learnt into this season. Jed Cruikshank (sheethand of Smeg last year) and Brandon Buyink have both committed for the season. Simon, Warren and Michael have also done a lot of work behind the scene getting Club Marine on board this year; I'm excited to represent them this year. Norths Sails is also involved this year to help us with the rig and sail set up once the new hull arrives. It's very exciting to have the support and seeing it start to come together."
"There's two races left for the spring series and a lot can change, particularly as the forecast for the weekend is looking exciting. A 25-knot southerly, which means we could see gusts near 30-knots, so maybe another storm rig for Club Marine! The adrenaline is already starting just thinking about it."
A highlight of the League's current season is the inclusion of a group of young champions from the very top 29er class teams, including former team mates Jacob Marks and Ben Crafoord, who are now rival skippers in Sixt and Rag & Famish Hotel.
During the Australian winter of 2023, Jacob and his Scots College school mate at the time Ben, went to Weymouth (UK) and contested the 29er World Championship, finishing seventh overall in the gold fleet, after winning five of the seven races in the International 29er Q Series just before the worlds.
Having both in the League's 2025-26 fleet is a huge bonus for the club which has been active in promoting a youth program for both male and female competitors.
Another highlight has been the appearances of Tash Bryant and Australian 16 footer champion Joel Beashel during the SIXT Spring Championship and Club Championship races.
With just two races still to be sailed in the SIXT Spring Championship, Sixt leads the points table on 11pts, followed by Club Marine (Emma Rankin) on 16, Lazarus Capital Partners (Tom Cunich) on 21, Yandoo 22, Fisher & Paykel (Brett Van Munster) 23, Rag & Famish Hotel 24, Sothery's Ballard Property 25, Smeg (Ash Rooklyn) 26, Vaikobi (Kirk Mitchell) 31 and The Kitchen Maker (Lachlan Steel) on 32pts.
If early weather predictions (20-knots plus southerly winds) become a reality, next Sunday's Race 5 of the SIXT Spring Championship could turn the points table upside down but provide spectators on the course or watching online with some incredible action.
The League's spectator ferry will depart Double Bay Public Wharf, as usual, at 2pm next Sunday and the SailMedia live stream coverage and expert commentary will be available on: