Last weekend 59 skiffs, including two Drummoyne boats, Sydney Sailmakers and Edenda faced the starters gun for the first race on the 2026-2027 16ft Skiff Regatta calendar - the Port Jackson Championship. Starting off Dobroyd Head the skiffs headed up the harbor, past Sow and Pigs, around Shark Island to Kurraba Point, retracing their course down the harbour to North Head, then into Balmoral before finishing in North Harbour.
Sydney Sailmakers with Will Beck on the helm, Dan Barnett on sheet and Andrew O'Brien in the bow were at the pointy end of the pack for much of the race, jostling for 3rd on the water, a minor technical issue saw them slip a few places but still finish in the top 10 with a seventh. Jessica Swadling who has taken over the helm of Edenda sailed her first 16 regatta finishing in 39th, Moni McEnearney making a guest appearance steering St George boat Navigatum finished one place in front.
On handicap the Sydney Sailmakers team finished a close second to St George skiff Pinch Me skippered by Natalia Wisniewska, Moni and her St George Navigatum crew finished 7th and the Edenda team of Jessica Swadling, Andrew Stephenson and Jess Stephenson finished 15th
The next race on the 16ft Skiff Calendar is the Port Hunter Championship on the 7th November and then the first round of the State Titles at Gosford Sailing Club 21st & 22nd November.
Images courtesy of SailMedia
