Champion skipper Heidi Bates has hinted her unprecedented reign in the 13ft skiff class may be coming to an end after she secured a second consecutive title at the Australian Championships.
Teaming with crew member Christian Spencer for the first time, Bates piloted Harken to impressive results, achieving a pair of wins, three runner-up finishes, and placements of fourth, fifth, and sixth. The 17-year-old is now contemplating a move to the 16ft skiffs following her triumph at the Belmont nationals.
“I’m not sure yet but I think next season I’m going to steer a 16,” Bates stated. “There are still a lot of things to work through but that’s what we’re looking at doing. Being in the 13s has been good preparation. It’s taught me how to sail a skiff and look at how the 16s do it.”
Bates’ reputation as a skilled skipper continues to grow, especially following this latest victory, which required quick adaptation after her regular partner, Orlando Sadlik, moved to the 29ers. “We hadn’t really done much sailing together apart from a week together before the nationals. We sailed against each other in the 29ers but our first training session was pretty much the first time we’d met. But it all seemed to work. Winning this regatta was harder than last year. There were a lot of different conditions and lots of boats,” she commented.
Eight boats from Manly placed inside the top 10, with Buck & Simple (Lachlan Jansen/Max Barrett) finishing second and Buckingham Marine (Ash Napper/Theo Franklin) third. Jansen and Barrett entered the final day just two points behind Harken but their 13th place finish in the last heat dashed their title hopes.
St George entrant Infinity Rigging (Tom Hughes/Noah Chenhall) concluded a strong regatta with a very commendable ninth place and was a popular winner of the handicap division.
2026 Skelcon. 16ft & 13ft Skiff Australian Championship Results:
WORDS | Adam Lucius
IMAGES | Michael Chittenden for Belmont 16s Sailing Club
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