18ft Skiffs - The Kitchen Maker 18ft Skiff Racing

The Australian 18 Footers League’s 2025-26 season starts on Sydney Harbour on Sunday, October 12. The long-time skiff sponsor The Kitchen Maker returns for its 15th continuous season, with Lachlan Steel at the helm for his fifth season in charge of a TKM-sponsored skiff.

Darren McKavanagh, owner of The Kitchen Maker, has a history in the 18-foot sailing scene, having raced since 2001. He first competed on a boat named Total Recall before TKM became a skiff sponsor in the 2010-11 season.

Reflecting on his journey, McKavanagh shared, “It was a huge learning curve as I had only sailed Flying 11s before then. Greg was a family friend with whom I sailed Flying 11s, and we went on to compete in the 2004 JJ Giltinan World Championship under the South African flag on the skiff named 7 Sunrise.”

After sailing various 18-foot skiffs, he decided to sponsor his own boat to give back to the sailing community that had provided him with many contacts. In his first sponsorship year, he sailed with Brett Van Munster, gaining valuable experience, and later with old friend Cameron McDonald.

In a pivotal moment before the 2012-13 season, McKavanagh reconnected with Malcolm Page, who agreed to sail on The Kitchen Maker. The partnership flourished over two seasons, adding to McKavanagh’s learning and enjoyment of the sport.

Over the years, The Kitchen Maker has seen various skippers, including John Sweeny and Andrew Chapman, with Stephen Quigley taking the helm in the 2016-17 season. The sponsorship achieved significant success in the 2017-18 season when Scott Babbage led the team to victory in the NSW Championship, supported by teammates Tom Quigley and Sam Ellis.

The team later secured a 10th-place finish at the 2018 JJ Giltinan World Championship. Scott Babbage’s tenure as skipper was memorable, following his success as a sheet hand on Gotta Love It 7, where he won five consecutive Giltinan World Championships from 2011 to 2015.

Jordan Girdis took over as skipper for the 2018-19 season, competing well before Lachlan Steel resumed the leadership role for the 2021-22 season and will continue this year.

Sailing enthusiasts can watch every action-packed 18-footer race live during the season, whether from the League’s spectator ferry on Sydney Harbour or from home. The club’s ferry departs Double Bay Public Wharf at 2pm on race days, while SailMedia’s professional Livestream team ensures excellent coverage with expert commentary.

The upcoming season will include Race 1 of the six-race Spring Championship on October 12, followed by the NSW Championship in December, the Australian Championship in January, and the JJ Giltinan World Championship commencing on March 6, 2026.

For the full race calendar of the Australian 18 Footers League’s 2025-26 season, visit https://18footers.com/calendar-2025-26/.