2021-22 Red Pumps 16ft Skiff nationals decided as three-boat battle fades with breeze

by Mark Rothfield 9 Jan 2022 16:44 NZDT 1-8 January 2022

A regatta like this deserved an exciting climax, not an 'anti' one, yet the wind gods could blow no more yesterday after giving their all during the 2022 Red Pumps 13ft and 16ft Skiff Australian Championships held by Belmont 16s on Lake Macquarie.

Thus, the final race was abandoned midstream and the overnight scores carried, leaving the Ronstan crew of Nathan Wilmot, Malcolm Page and Brett Davis as worthy national champions.

The script had been written for a three-way battle with IMEI and Moonen Yachts, but you simply can't race without wind. The fleet did get a start in, under black flag, but the breeze swung 50 degrees and the top mark was pulled on the first work. The time limit then expired.

"I've done a lot of nationals and to finally win one, and to win it with Mal and Bretto is fantastic," a relieved Wilmot said. "At the top mark the three of us were probably going to be two, three and four anyway. In the end there was no wind - an unfortunate way to win it but nice to finally get it out of the way."

Ronstan - photo © Michael Chittenden

Wilmot borrowed the skiff, formerly Growthbuilt, from his cousin then went to see sailmaker Robert 'Baz' Atkins at Truflo Sails.

"We asked Baz what sails need to be replaced and he said, 'all of them'. That was a week before Christmas so he spent the whole time making us new sails. Even last night, he went back to Sydney to rebuild our ripped spinnaker in case we needed it.

"He got us there and got us a national championship with it."

Winners - Ronstan - Nathan Wilmot, Brett Davis and Malcolm Page. - photo © Michael Chittenden

Davis, a Belmont local, last had his hands on the silverware in 2002-03 when he won with Greg Searant and Stephen Newell.

"I honestly never expected to win another. I'm so grateful these guys asked me to come and sail. I actually spoke to Nathan about 12 months ago and he said I'd have to be under 100 kilos - that was a fair challenge," Davis said.

In the end, he tipped the scales at 95kg.

"Today, I'm down 20 kilos since I started losing weight. It's the lightest I've been for 15 years and I feel really good. It's just awesome right now, crazy."

Ronstan rued a torn spinnaker in Race 8 but can look back and thank NFPG, which capsized a boat length from the line while leading in Race 4. The fortuitous point they gained proved critical in the wash-up.

IMEI - photo © Mark Rothfield

IMEI began the week with a 12th after skipper David Gilmour's hiking strap broke and he fell overboard. They then posted an 11th in Race 3 but came home with a wet sail to claim second place. There was also some good news for the crew yesterday, with regular skipper Doc (Dave O'Connor) announcing the birth of his baby. They just couldn't bring home the title.

"A north-easterly was meant to come through but a westerly seemed to be fighting it," Gilmour explained. "We got about halfway to the top mark and the wind started to shift, then it completely died.

"We were lifting to the mark with a bit more breeze than the rest of the fleet. We were looking pretty (but) it was within the race committee's rights to abandon the race.

"We're happy with second. Would've been nice to make a few less mistakes but the Ronstan guys sailed a very consistent event and deserved the win."

Third-placed Moonen Yachts skipper Daniel Turner needed some variables on the race track but not what eventuated.

"We would've paid good money to see the race roll out. Ronstan was on our hip and we felt like we were gaining on them. So it was looking good for us and IMEI," he said. "Unfortunately, the longer you stay in the fleet, the more a podium feels like you just didn't get there but we can't take it too hard."

Fluid. - photo © Mark Rothfield

Bryden's Lawyers held on for 4th and Fluid finished 5th, the star crew of Nathan Outteridge, Tom Slingsby and Iain Jensen having fun doing so. They hit speeds of 25 knots in the skiff - half that of what they're used to on the SailGP foilers.

"We had the pumping nor'easters that Belmont often provides and I'm happy to be racing back on Lake Macquarie - it has been a long time," Outteridge said. "We felt like we left some points on the table but I also think we jagged a couple.

"On the way here, Tom was already talking about how we can compete in the upcoming Sprint series. It was a pleasure to sail in the fleet and we look forward to coming back."

Race 9 Start - photo © Michael Chittenden

Otherwise, the next time Outteridge and Slingsby see each other, they'll be facing off for the SailGP final in San Francisco USA in March, wearing the rival helmets of Japan and Australia.

"Looking forward to SailGP," Outteridge adds. "It will be nice to be foiling again and sailing around the track a little bit faster and a little bit drier."

Handicap winner was XXXX Gold (Neale Jones, Luke Dunne, Mike Ovenstone) from Belmont clubmate Domino's.

The youth title went to the Lancelin team of Brendan Crisp, Fynn Sprott and Tom Cunich. "We're new to it, so pretty happy to be out here with everyone, not just the youth sailors. To mix it with guys who've done heaps in the sailing world is such a great thing to do," Crisp said.

Georgia Steenson, steering Bella Group with Michael Hochguertel and Rory Murtagh, claimed the female sailors' award from Capital Brewing's Jessica Iles and Marilyn Sorensen on Shead. "It's a good competition between the female skippers and we've done pretty well overall," Steenson said. "I moved up from Flying 11s so the boat is a very different to what I'm used to, but really fun."

13s winners Max Downey and Thomas Mountstephens - photo © Michael Chittenden

Manly sailors Max Downey and Thomas Mountstephens were crowned 13ft Skiff champions after posting seven wins from as many starts aboard Cheeky. It wasn't always as easy as that score suggests.

"We had our most drama on the first day, with a few breakages," Downey, 17, said. "We capsized after crashing into a 16 that my brother sails (Fireball) and we broke the trap elastics. Then, on the last upwind, the jib shackle let go so we sailed half of it with no jib and crossed 12 seconds in front. Pretty lucky.

"Next season I'm looking to steer a 16, so if anyone has one they want me to steer, let me know... otherwise I'll buy a boat."

The national championships were supported by series sponsor Red Pumps and race sponsors Inspectrite, NHS, Skelcon, Piper, Allen, Vaikobi, Bryon Bay Brewing, East Coast Marine, Contender Sailcloth and Domino's.

Next on the 16s' calendar is the 2022 Australian Sprint Championships, also to be hosted by Belmont, on February 5.

16ft Skiff Overall Results:

Pos	Boat Name	Skipper	Crew	Crew	From	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	Pts
1	Ronstan	Nathan Wilmot	Brett Davis	Malcolm Page	Man	2	[4]	4	2	4	[5]	3	2	17
2	IMEI	David Gilmour	Trent Barnabas	Rob Napper	Man	[12]	3	[11]	6	1	3	4	1	18
3	Moonen Yachts	Daniel Turner	Angus Williams	Matt Stenta	Man	1	5	6	[8]	[11]	1	1	5	19
4	Brydens Lawyers	Lee Knapton	Peter Mackie	Ricky Bridge	StG	7	2	[12]	4	2	4	7	[11]	26
5	Fluid Building	Nathan Outteridge	Tom Slingsby	Iain Jenson	Man	5	[11]	1	7	5	[17]	6	3	27
6	Insight Building Ser	Rod Carter	Adam Gilson	Andrew Stone	Bel	4	[16]	3	1	14	2	[24]	4	28
7	Domino's	Michael Quirk	Dallas Dawson	Thomas Stenson	Bel	6	1	2	10	[15]	[13]	12	7	38
8	Contender Sailcloth	Will Howard	Richard Howard	Corey Hamilton	Bel	[10]	6	[14]	9	6	7	2	9	39
9	Sail Racing	Felix Grech	Paul Darmanin	Tom Potter	Man	[11]	9	7	[15]	9	6	5	6	42
10	Newcastle Financial	Ben Bruniges	Justin Sharrock	Dave Hickey	Bel	8	7	[18]	5	[47O]	10	8	8	46
11	East Coast Marine &	Tom Dawson	Jamie Woods	Joel Castle	Bel	[16]	8	5	14	3	[15]	11	10	51
12	SKE Electrical	Scott Babbage	Scott Beeby	Joel Skelton	Bel	3	12	8	3	18	[47S]	[47C]	13	57
13	Money Links	Adam Piper	Troy Dobinson	Mark Willis	Bel	[23]	13	15	13	7	12	9	[18]	69
14	Lancelin	Brendan Crisp	Fynn Sprott	Tom Cunich	Man	[29]	10	13	11	8	[22]	19	21	82
15	Red Pumps Red	Gerard Smith	Keagan York	Kirk Mitchell	Man	14	17	10	[19]	17	14	10	[19]	82
16	Eric's Storage	Harry Lawson	Nathan Edwards	Alex Leslie	MH	19	[47F]	16	12	13	11	[47C]	15	86
17	Knighton Group	Tom Burton	Max Paul	Simon Hoffman	Bel	13	[24]	[25]	21	19	9	14	14	90
18	Red Pumps	Bruce Savage	Greg Windust	Jay Harris	Man	15	18	19	[25]	[28]	8	16	16	92
19	Toogara	Josh Tasker	Sam Monkhouse	Finn Rodowicz	StG	18	14	17	18	10	[27]	15	[20]	92
20	Jamesco	Ben Bradley	James Turner	Alex Marinelli	StG	17	15	[23]	16	16	16	[47F]	12	92
21	Sutech Building Cons	Michael Koerner	Josh Ponton	James Lawira‑Fernand	Man	20	19	9	[28]	12	21	18	[47C]	99
22	Pepsi Max	Ross Stutchbury	Ben Pilley	Shane Burke	Bel	[26]	20	20	17	[26]	19	13	24	113
23	NHS Building Supplie	Matt Crockett	Robert Flanagan	Glen Dawson	Bel	21	25	[27]	[47F]	20	20	21	17	124
24	Tooheys Extra Dry	Matthew Meaney	Hugo Hamilton	Felix Prince	Bel	22	21	24	20	[29]	[28]	17	23	127
25	Vaikobi	Felix Daverio	Michael Childs	James Slee	Man	27	[28]	21	22	23	24	20	[47C]	137
26	Bella Group	Georgia Steenson	Michael Hochguertel	Rory Murtagh	Bel	24	[27]	[32]	27	25	25	22	27	150
27	CMG Property Mainten	Michael Vincent	Cameron Walker	Taylor Hodgkinson	MH	31	22	[33]	23	24	[47C]	26	26	152
28	Capital Brewing Co	Jessica Iles	Andrew Iles	Riley Pike	Man	28	26	22	[47F]	35	26	[47F]	22	159
29	Edenda	Will Beck	Andrew Stephenson	Peter McLeod	Drum	30	[32]	31	24	27	[47F]	23	28	163
30	XXXX Gold	Neale Jones	Luke Dunne	Mike Ovenstone	Bel	32	[33]	28	26	33	18	[47F]	29	166
31	Shead	Marilyn Sorensen	Steve Stenta	Michael Jenkins	MH	[47F]	31	26	[35]	32	23	25	31	168
32	Schweppes	Bailey James	Jamie Dobinson	Rob James	Bel	25	30	39	31	34	[47C]	[47C]	25	184
33	ADCO Constructions	Lachlan Steel	Ben Kirkby	Jerome Watts	StG	33	29	29	29	21	[47C]	[47C]	47C	188
34	Konami	Bethany Sherry	Jason Thompson	Shane Slattery	Bel	[47F]	23	30	30	22	[47S]	47C	47S	199
35	Fireball	James Downey	James Pinnington	Sam Skeen	Man	34	39	37	32	38	[47C]	[47C]	30	210
36	Employment Hero	Andrew Divola	Alastair Hunter	George Thompson	Man	35	37	34	37	36	[47C]	[47C]	32	211
37	Aristocrat	Kimberly Baker	Jackson Baker	Jon Searles	Bel	37	34	35	33	[47F]	[47F]	47C	34	220
38	PT	Hayden Hansen	Nathan Guliksen	Mark Murray	Gos	[47F]	38	38	34	31	[47C]	47C	35	223
39	Kammakazie	Richard Williams	Phil Jenkins	Ian Wood	MH	36	35	36	[47F]	[47C]	47F	47C	33	234
40	One Too Many	Stephen Chapman	Paul Harrison	Greg Steenson	Bel	[47F]	36	40	36	30	[47C]	47C	47C	236
41	Cunninghams	Nick Connor	Zac Barnabas	Daniel Nugent	Man	9	[47C]	[47C]	47C	47C	47C	47C	47C	244
42	White Tiger	Michael Carter	Craig Doran	David Russel	Man	38	40	41	39	39	[47S]	[47C]	47C	244
43	Weathertex	Jess Rivers	Will Rivers	Ryan Watt	Gos	[47F]	41	[47O]	40	37	47C	47C	47F	259
44	Inspectrite Australi	Beynon Telford	Josh Henshaw	William Horin	Bel	[47F]	[47F]	42	38	40	47C	47C	47C	261
45	Iron Jack	Griffin Suters	Geoff Akhurst	Sophia Ugarte	Bel	[47S]	[47F]	47C	47F	47F	47C	47C	36	271
46	Brian Hilton Motor G	Brent Connor	Sam Grik	Lincoln Senior	Gos	[47C]	[47C]	47C	47C	47C	47C	47C	47C	282

13ft Skiff Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	Crew	From	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	Pts
1	40	Cheeky	Max Downey	Thomas Mountstephens	Man	[1]	1	1	1	1	1	1	6
2	9	#9	Angus Stewart	Hugo Kemp	HKSC	2	2	2	2	2	2	[6]	12
3	35	Ebix	Liam Karunaratne	James Hopkins	Man	3	3	3	4	3	3	[5]	19
4	39	Bigfoot Bags and Cov	Peter Rowe	Hugh Skeen	Gos	[9F]	4	6	3	4	6	3	26
5	37	Dutchess	Amy Bentley	Bethan Karunaratne	Man	4	5	4	5	5	5	[7]	28
6	44	AWOL	Andrew de Montfort	Jake Bentley	Man	[9F]	6	5	6	6	7	4	34
7	22	Plonk Cafe	Avril Richardson	Peggy Stanbury	MH	[9F]	9F	9F	9F	9C	9F	2	47
8	18	Eric's Removals	Amy Hargrave	Jamie Hargrave	MH	[9C]	9C	9C	9C	9C	4	8	48