2026 Tri Search 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship - Day 4
by Di Pearson, 12ft Skiff Media 8 Jan 10:02 GMT
3-10 January 2026
Kiwis Alex Vallings and Fraser Brown (C-Tech) topped up their win of yesterday with a further two bullets on Day 4 of the triSearch 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship on Sydney Harbour.
Their trio of wins and a race drop now in play has closed up the scoreboard in the race for the Silasec Trophy somewhat. Sail Inc. (Nick Press/Andrew Hay, NSW) leads on 11 points from Geotherm (Brett Hobson/Peter Nicholson, NSW) on 17 and C-Tech on 18.
Sydney Sailmakers (Josh Tasker/Brendan Jenkins, NSW) are fourth on 22 points and Monkey Wrench (Jono Clough/Pat Morgan, NZL) are fifth on 31. Two days and three races remain.
A lovely summer 10-15 knot nor' easter was much preferred to the tricky conditions of the past three days, but you had to stay afloat to win - and C-Tech did just that, sailing two text book races while others spent time swimming.
In Race 6, C-Tech won from Geotherm, which had led the race early on. Sail Inc. was third.
"We got a good start at the pin in the first race, then we had a ship to deal with (Southern Swan crossed in front of the starting fleet and caused at least one capsize) and then we went up the work and rounded in first place and stayed there," Vallings said.
In the second race, Sail Inc. had a sizeable lead all the way round the course until the last run when bad luck struck. Hay's trapeze wire broke and Sail Inc. capsized.
"I had my foot in the strap and a hand on the spinnaker sheet. I wasn't going to let go, because that would have cost us way more time," Hay said.
They were by no means the only ones to go in. Geotherm also had a swim at Bradleys Head after sailing in the top three and that proved costly.
As it was, the capsize cost Sail Inc. the race and Geotherm a top three place, as C-Tech sailed cleanly to cross first, with Sail Inc. second and Sydney Sailmakers (Josh Tasker/Brendan Jenkins, NSW) home third, having a much better run than they did yesterday. Geotherm was sixth - a worst result and used as the drop.
"That race was slug-out," Vallings said. "They (Sail Inc. and Geotherm) got the first work right, then Geotherm capsized and we got in front on the last run," Vallings said.
Brown noted, "There were big holes in the middle of the Harbour in both races, but especially in the first race."
"We battled away the whole second race and got there in the end", said Vallings, New Zealand's top 12ft skiff sailor. He finished runner-up last year and can claim nine Interdominion wins, two as crew for Tim Bartlett and the rest as a skipper.
Brown added, "Great Team results for the Kiwis today."
He is right. C-Tech, Monkey Wrench and As Good As It Gets (Glenn Armstrong/Roger Barnes) enjoyed a great day on the water.
"A good result, but not the one we wanted," said Hay, adding, "A win would have taken the pressure of us."
There were other capsizes today, including before the start of Race 7, when Jakub Ronowicz/Ben Faulkner's Stay Connected Electrical (NSW) hit the drink. However, apart from Races 3 and 7, they have sailed well enough to take the handicap lead overall from C-Tech.
The fleet was off the water just in time, as the nor' easter really kicked in and could have caused the boats some damage.
Two races are scheduled for tomorrow, starting from 2pm. The 63rd Interdominion finishes on Saturday 10 January with one race and is being hosted by the Australian 18 Footers League at Double Bay.
First held on Sydney Harbour in 1957, the Interdominion is an annual competition between Australia and New Zealand for the Silasec Trophy. triSearch is the naming rights sponsor for the 63rd Interdominion and is a subsidiary of InfoTrack. Support sponsors are Your Move Conveyancing and Pete's Home Loans.
A spectator ferry will be on the water for the final day of racing on 10 January and departs Double Bay Wharf at 1.30pm, so bring your friends and family along. Ferry tickets here.
For full results and all information on the 12ft Skiff class and its events, please visit: www.skiff.org.au