The 2026 triSearch 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship is set to take place on Sydney Harbour from 3-10 January, with up to 30 entries expected from NSW, Queensland, and New Zealand, including past winners and runners-up from previous competitions.
Among the competitors, Alex ‘Ginge’ Vallings of the Royal Akarana Yacht Club (RAYC) in New Zealand is back after finishing runner-up last year, partnering with Fraser Brown, who was his crew in 2016 when they won the championship. Nick Press and Andrew ‘Noddy’ Hay, representing Sail Inc. from Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club, claimed third in 2025. Press boasts nine previous Interdominion titles, with four wins alongside Hay, while Brett Hobson (Geotherm) has one championship win and five second-place finishes.
Press identifies several contenders, including Paul O’Malley-Jones and Wayne Richter on ‘Giddy Up’ from Darling Point Sailing Squadron, and six-time winner Tim Bartlett with Matt Hix on ‘The Darkside’ from RAYC.
Press also cautions that Josh Tasker and Brendan Jenkins from Sydney Sailmakers, fresh off winning the recent NSW Championship, are strong competitors. Another notable entry is Jono Clough of RAYC, who recently reclaimed his boat ‘Monkey Wrench’ from the 2025 winners, Eli Liefting and Blake McGlashan.
The championship will commence with an Invitation Race on Saturday, 3 January, followed by ten races scheduled between 4 and 10 January, including a layday on 7 January. The event, now in its 63rd year, is sponsored by triSearch, whose CEO Chris Gibbs expressed pride in supporting the championship and highlighted its importance to the 12ft skiff sailing community, which exemplifies values such as innovation and teamwork.
triSearch is a subsidiary of InfoTrack www.trisearch.com.au. Support sponsorship comes from Your Move Conveyancing https://yourmoveconveyancing.com.au/ and Pete’s Home Loans www.peteshomeloans.com.au.
The Interdominion was first held in 1957 on Sydney Harbour and has become a prestigious annual competition between Australia and New Zealand, competing for the coveted Silasec Trophy. This trophy, donated by Keith Golding of Sealwall Trading Company, features the names of many notable sailors in its history.
Spectators are invited to view the annual event, which is held alternately in Australia and New Zealand. There will be a Spectator Ferry on 4 and 10 January, departing from the Double Bay Wharf at 1.30pm, so bring your friends and family along to be a part of the action. Ferry tickets at:
https://events.humanitix.com/4-january-12ft-skiff-interdominion-ferry-heats-1-and-2
and
https://events.humanitix.com/10-january-12ft-skiff-interdominion-ferry-final-day
Otherwise, take out your own boat or view from land.
For more information on the 12ft Skiff class and events, visit https://www.skiff.org.au/.
Di Pearson/12ft Skiff media
Hashtags: #12ftSkiff #SailingAustralia #SydneyHarbour #InterdominionChampionship #TriSearch
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