"Get Your Boat Out of the Way!" - NSW Champs Races 1 & 2 (Highlights)

The first two races of the 2025-26 NSW 18ft skiff Championship were conducted by the Australian 18 Footers League in very light Easterly breeze of no more than 9-10knots at any time on Sydney Harbour today and resulted with the Balmain team of Henry Larkings, Charlie Wyatt and Laschlan Pryor taking the overall honours to hold the championship lead after the first day’s racing. In Race 1, Balmain continued last week’s winning form when the team defeated Smeg (Ash Rooklyn, Niall Morrow and Finn Rodowicz) by 37s, with Yandoo (Micah Lane, Fang Warren and Josh Feldmann) a further 39s back in third place. Sixt (Jacob Marks) finished fourth, ahead of The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines (Hugo Stoner) and Rag & Famish Hotel (Seve Jarvin). In Race 2, Club Marine (Emma Rankin, Aron Everett and Brandon Buyink) gave a brilliant display in the testing, extremely light conditions to defeat a fast-finishing Rag & Famish Hotel (Seve Jarvin, Ryan Ewings and Max Nearn) by 17s, with Race 1 winner Balmain another 10s back in third place. Yandoo came home in fourth place ahead of Sotherby’s Ballard Property (Bec Hancock) and Shaw and Partners Financial Services (Keagan York). Emma Rankin’s victory became the second female skipper to win a championship race in the 18s, and the first to win a race in the NSW Championship. Credits Shot and edited by Sprott Media Words by Frank Quealey Livestream footage courtesy of Sail Media Visit www.18footers.com for the very best in 18 foot skiff racing from Sydney Harbour and beyond