Balmain 18ft Skiff Team on top
by Frank Quealey 3 Dec 09:16 GMT
Balmain flying 18 action © SailMedia
Consistency has taken the talented team to the top
Early season form in the fifth season of 18ft skiff racing for the talented Balmain team has it positioned at the top of the NSW State Championship and in second place in the Australian 18 Footers League's Club Championship and set to record its best results if the consistency continues over the remaining championship section of the 2025-26 season.
There's little doubt about the natural talent of Henry Larkings and the Balmain teams over the past four seasons, but despite good placings of 9th in 2022, 8th in 2023 and 7th at both the 2024 and 2025 championships, it is not showing their real ability in the overall results at major championships.
Now the 2025-26 season Balmain team of Larkings, Tom Grimes and Locky Pryor has the ability and experience to go beyond previous results and become a strong Top-3 challenger for the 2026 Giltinan world championship title. Consistency seems to be the answer for Balmain.
Henry agrees, "We've had a young, enthusiastic team over the four seasons and possibly pushed too hard at times in the big regattas rather than concentrate more on consistency, which would have given us even better overall results."
"This season's team has a lot of local and international sailing experience and I'm confident that this will be a strong influence when the pressure is on during the major championship in March."
"I believe it is already showing in our performances this season. We have a good boat and are gaining more confidence with every race."
Looking back at the record of the Balmain team in previous Giltinan championship regattas, it has been affected by a lack of consistency as many very good individual race performances have been marred by a few disappointing race results in each regatta.
Success at the Giltinan World Championship demands consistency throughout the entire regatta as several past winners of the championship can confirm.
The most obvious was the great Color 7 team of Iain Murray, Andrew Buckland and Don Buckley at the 1980 Auckland championship. Color 7 won just one single race in the seven-race regatta, while the three teams finishing immediately behind Color 7 each won two races, but consistency over the entire regatta gave the Color 7 team the title.
History shows that keeping the boat in one piece and upright is critical for achieving consistency.
Henry began his competitive sailing career skippering a 29er and became the Australian National Champion in 2016-17 and went on to win the 29er Youth Australian Championships in 2017 and 2018 which qualified him for the Youth World Championships, where he placed 3rd at the 29er Youth World Championships in Texas and 9th at the 2017 Youth World Championships in China.
After a short period sailing in the Olympic 49er class, Henry joined the Balmain 18ft skiff team in 2021 as skipper, and incredibly on the opening day of the 2021-22 season, won both races. It was an amazing effort for someone having his first race in an 18. He said at the time that he was "shocked, but happy with the boat's speed." He also paid tribute to the League, saying "we were given the boat John Winning sailed last season, which was perfectly set up for us to go racing."
Maybe so, but winning the first time you sail an 18 is very rare.
As well as competing in the highly competitive 18s, last season Henry placed 2nd in the 12ft skiff Nationals on-board Sydney Sailmakers, and outside of sailing, he plays Rugby Union for Kings Rugby Club during the winter and works as a Site Engineer at Built.
Tom Grimes joined the Balmain team in the 2023-24 season as the mainsheet hand, a role he will continue in this season. His sharp tactical awareness and technical ability make him an integral part of the team on and off the water.
His sailing record reflects both consistency and passion at the elite level in the sport and over the past decade, he has developed a reputation as one of Australia's top young sailors, balancing success across offshore, match racing, and one-design classes.
Tom's career highlights include: 3 x Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, with a standout 2nd overall in 2021, Youth Match Racing World Champion - 2019, Australian Champion and NSW Youth Match Racing Champion - 2017, 2018, 2019, Australian Champion and NSW Champion in J70 class - 2017, 2018, 2019 and University World Champion - 2018.
Beyond the racing circuit, Tom is an Aerospace Engineer working at the cutting edge of autonomous marine systems, a professional expertise in advanced engineering which complements his sailing, "bringing a unique perspective to performance, technology, and teamwork at the highest levels of the sport."
This indicates he may have the type of stability required to ensure a consistent regatta for the team.
Third member of the team is Locky Pryor, who is having his first season with Balmain but is very well known in both the 16ft and 18ft Skiffs, and also has an extensive sailing career in numerous classes. Outside of sailing, Locky is a School Teacher at Pymble's Ladies College.
His bio includes, part of the winning crew aboard Mobile Travel Agents' Big Wave Rider in the 2012 Australian Three Peaks Race, NSW and Australian IRC Championships with the DK46 Nine Dragons/Khalessi, including two Sydney to Hobarts and two Sydney-Southport campaigns, multiple MC38 titles with Ginger and Lightspeed, culminating in the 2017 Australian Championship. He has been a core crew member on Celestial in the J/70 class, achieving back-to-back second places at the Australian Championships in Melbourne, a podium finish at Cowes Week in the UK, a third place at the Corinthian World Championships in Lake Garda, and representing CYCA at the World Championships in Monaco and the European Championship.
Henry and his teams over the past four seasons, and now in 2025-26, are fortunate to have had the support of Balmain, which is one of the largest and longest established Private Credit businesses in Australia.
According to Balmain, "Engaging with the community is something we have always enjoyed doing. Our priority has been finding interesting fun ways to do this and we have been involved with multiple sponsorship opportunities across the Eastern Seaboard. Sponsoring the 18 Footers has been a major focus for Balmain, because of the opportunity it provides to give back to the community."
"Sponsoring sailing at the Club for a fifth year in a row, brings people together, in an exciting, fun and relaxed way, and Balmain is a major supporter of keeping the sport alive with the 18 Footers League Club in Double Bay. Our involvement with the Club also provides the opportunity to understand what the community are seeking - from those who are already customers of Balmain, and those who may be interested in becoming a customer."
"What better way to do it, than to sponsor the 18 Footers in Double Bay."
"Out on the water, our 18 Footer is easily spotted. Wrapped in the 'Balmain Orange' colour, the boat is eye-catching and is fitted with a matching main sail and a black and white jib - all to remind spectators of Balmain's involvement with the Club. Sailed by an enthusiastic, young and fit crew, Henry, Tom and Locky, they are seasoned sailors who work as one whilst on the water. Balmain strives to deliver the best, and so do our sailing team."
The final word from Henry Larkings sums up the close association Balmain has with the boat and the Australian 18 Footers League, "We have the best sponsor in the boat park".
After the first two races in the eight-race championship, the Balmain team leads the points table on 4 points, followed by Yandoo on 7, Rag & Famish Hotel on 8, Smeg on 11, then Club Marine and Sixt on 12 points.
The NSW Championship continues next Sunday (7 December) when the Australian 18 Footers League will conduct Races 3 and 4 on Sydney Harbour. The club's spectator ferry will follow the racing, leaving Double Bay Wharf at 2pm.
SailMedia will livestream all the action: