Yamaha win 18ft Skiff Auckland Champs

9:20 AM Tue 24 Nov 2009 GMT

'Yamaha winner of the 2009 Auckland 18ft skiff champs' Greg Fenwick Click Here to view large photo

A tight contest was sailed on Auckland Harbour, with Team Yamaha (Scott Kennedy) edging out JF Hillebrand (Phil Airey) by 1 point to win the 2009 18ft Skiff Auckland Champs.

After a great start to the regatta last Sunday, the 2009 18ft Skiff Auckland Champs resumed on Auckland Harbour on Saturday 21st November with a 15 - 20knot Westerly breeze facing the competitors.

Three back to back harbour courses were scheduled for the day with all boats bar CT Sail Battens (Alex Vallings) choosing to sail with their big rigs in the marginal conditions.

Yamaha won the day followed by JF Hillebrand and Stunt Academy (Chris Hirst). Some great rides were had by the crews whilst racing between Resolution, North Head and Mission Bay with speeds in excess of 20knots being recorded. There were a few broken boats and crew members to be repaired before racing the next day.

Maersk Line competing in the 2009 Auckland 18ft Skiff Champs - Greg Fenwick Click Here to view large photo

The competitors were greeted with an 18-24 knot Westerly on Sunday morning and all boats wisely chose the number 2 small rigs. The racing was tight between all boats in the 2 races sailed. Maersk Line (Graham Catley) and Yamaha were a bit premature in starting the first race.

Experience showed through with Maersk Line returning back to re start and Yamaha continuing to race. This proved costly for Team Yamaha, being disqualified as a consequence. JF Hillibrand won the race followed by Maersk Line and CT Sail Battens. Race 2 was won by CT Sail Battens followed by Yamaha and Maersk Line.

CT Sailbattens competing in the 2009 Auckland 18ft Skiff Champs - Greg Fenwick Click Here to view large photo

A great regatta was sailed by all boats with the usual amount of war stories compared over a cold beer following racing.

Overall results:
Yamaha (Scott Kennedy) 10 points, JF Hillebrand (Phil Airey) 11 points and Maersk Line (Graham Catley) 20 points.