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The 12 footer
class will replay some major trophies at the Squaddy
Brass Monkey Regatta this August, when the NSW,
Australian and Interdominion champions all meet
again.
Nick Press and Brad Yabsley
are the young guns who took out the highly prized
12ft Skiff Interdominion Trophy in January this
year.
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Current
Australian champions "Gizmo"
Michael Bochner and Peter Craig
Photo
by Garrick Cameron
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Michael Bochner and Peter
Craig claimed the Australian Titles in Brisbane
at Easter, capitalising on Michael’s long
time dominating presence in the 12s.
Jon Temple and Richard Jones
are reaping the benefits of a ten year history
as a team, being hard to beat when they won the
NSW State Titles earlier in the season.
All three teams are to meet
again, all entering in the Dinghy Solutions sponsored
Squaddy Brass Monkey Regatta. This will be a spectacular
rematch with no clear indication of who will have
the edge.
Young sailors thinking of
starting up in 12s (http://www.skiff.org.au)
can come down to this regatta to meet these champions,
or do the Dinghy Solutions Skiff Course to fast
track some skills.
Nick Press and Brad Yabsley
have been together as a crew for a few years,
with Nick having served his apprenticeship under
his well known father, Murray Press. Whilst there
is no doubt that Murray has passed on the right
skills and mindset to win in this class, the base
of their win in the Interdominions was simple
hard work.
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Current
NSW Champion "P&O" Jonathan
Temple and Richard Jones
Photo
by Garrick Cameron
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To score the big win, this
team sailed three days a week, every week leading
up to the event. And that doesn’t count
the hours of maintenance and tuning of gear they
put in.
The 12s offer sailors real
hands on experience. Most people in the class
build their own rigs, finish and fit out the hulls
themselves. Booms and bowsprits all typically
put together in someone’s garage late at
night.
As an example, National Champion,
Michael Bochner, bought a bare hull from C-Tech
in Auckland, shipped it home with a mate in the
Air-Force. A quick delivery of bare carbon tubes
from CST, a few late nights and a winning 12 footer
was born. This is a 5 year old hull and is the
current National Champion boat. Not bad for a
home made job.
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Current
Interdominion Champion "Yabba Dabba"
Nick Press and Brad Yabsley
Photo
by Garrick Cameron
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State Champion Jon Temple
is sailing a 9 year old hull, bought second hand
from someone who is probably still regretting
the decision. Jon and Richard have won 4 or 5
State Titles, and 3 Nationals in this hull.
The 12 footers are a strong
reliable boat, that offers great value for money
for both the new skiffy, or long time champion.
That sailors can learn some basic carbon and rigging
skills, then keep a boat competitive for years
is a great benefit to the class.
There are about 70 sailing
in Australia at the moment, and that makes for
a lot of garage based workshops. Mum would not
be impressed. I still have fond memories of my
mother giving me a thick ear for using her good
sewing scissors to cut up some chop strand fibreglass.
These guys must have copped a hiding.
For more information about
Dinghy Solution Sailing School’s skiff course,
go to http://www.dinghysolutions.com.au/.
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