On Sunday, the Yandoo 18ft skiff team, comprising Tom Needham, Fang Warren and Lewis Brake, are poised to secure another title as they compete on Sydney Harbour for the NSW Championship final day.
Having achieved four consecutive wins, Yandoo appears to have an advantageous position, with favourable early weather predictions suggesting conditions that align with their strengths.
Balmain, represented by Henry Larkings, Tom Grimes and Lachlan Prior, stands as the only team with a remote chance of overtaking Yandoo, although significant odds are stacked against them.
Following calculations concerning current point totals while allowing for each team to discard their worst race, Yandoo needs merely a 3rd or 4th place in one of the two upcoming races to clinch the championship.
With a current score of 11 points, Yandoo’s potential 4th place finish would elevate their total to 14 points, well within the championship threshold.
Conversely, Balmain’s best five races currently total 12 points, necessitating two wins on Sunday to also reach a maximum score of 14 points.
Even achieving a tie on points would not favour Balmain, as Yandoo would emerge victorious based on count-back, holding four race wins compared to a maximum of three for Balmain.
However, despite Yandoo’s apparent path to victory, the anticipated race conditions have the potential to deliver thrilling action for spectators and viewers of the SailMedia livestream.
The current top-10 standings, inclusive of total points, discards, and net totals, are as follows:
Yandoo 11 points, (4), 7 points
Balmain 25 points, (13), 12 points
Vaikobi 36 points, (14), 22 points
Rag & Famish Hotel 38 points, (11), 27 points
Smeg 41 points, (12), 29 points
Club Marine 43 points, (11), 32 points
Sixt 44 points, (11), 33 points
The Kitchen Maker 49 points, (11), 38 points
Fisher & Paykel 61 points, (18), 43 points
Royal Oak Double Bay-4Pines 59 points, (14), 45 points
This season, the races have featured numerous young and novice teams, with the current top entrants significantly more experienced than those placed below them.
The racing will break for the Christmas-New Year period, resuming on Sunday, 17 January 2026, with Day 1 of the Australian Championship.
Onlookers can catch the action via a spectator ferry departing Double Bay Wharf at 2pm, while SailMedia will livestream the event at http://youtube.com/video/Jmc5gDOmXc4/livestreaming.
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