18ft Skiff Queen of the Harbour 2018
by Frank Quealey 18 Mar 2018 22:53 NZDT
18 March 2018
Leaders charge down the first spinnaker run during the 18ft Skiff Queen of the Harbour © Frank Quealey
Twenty one year old Isabelle Quigley became the 18ft Skiffs Queen of the Harbour for 2018 when she teamed with Steve Quigley, Sam Ellis and Scott Babbage in The Kitchen Maker on Sydney Harbout today.
The Kitchen Maker and Finport Trade Finance were in or near the lead over the three laps of the course before The Kitchen Maker took the line honours by just two seconds in a dramatic finish.
Finport Trade Finance (Tara Blanc Ramos, Keagan York, Matt Stenta, Angus Williams) was four seconds ahead of third placed Yandoo (Nicole Douglass, John Winning, Cam McDonald, Michael Kennedy).
Ilve (Claire Kowaltzke, Ollie Hartas) finished fourth, ahead of De'Longhi (Natasha Childs, Simon Nearn), and Quality Marine Clothing (Ashleigh Hoffman, Aron Everett).
The race was sailed a a 15-20-knots North West wind which tested the crews and their teams over the three laps windward-return course.
Conditions provided the queens with an exciting sailing experience as the skiffs raced around the tight course in strong wind conditions.
Isabelle Quigley, who usually sails a 13 Footer at St. George Sailing Club was having her first race in the annual Queen of the Harbour and said the experience was awesome.
Note, today's race is the final 18ft Skiff race for the 2017-2018 Season.