The young crew aboard WHITEFOX Real Estate (WRE) delivered on their mantra of dressing for success with back-to-back handicap wins in the Manly 16s’ short course series, which took place in a perfect 10-15 nor’easter on Saturday.
New signage on WHITEFOX RE revitalised the boat, as skipper Sophie Hart with crew Conor Hay and Hugh Skeen achieved their best results of the season, finishing 13th and eighth (on scratch) across two races, earning double handicap honours.
Sophie reflected on the impact of the new signage, saying, “Our boat looked all nice and pretty, and I think it gave us a kind of ‘feel good, do good’ vibe. The boat definitely felt good, so we’re super happy with it and our sponsors are super happy with it as well.”
At just over 20 years old on average, Hart (20), Skeen (22), and Hay (24) form one of the youngest teams in the fleet, competing against some of the country’s leading 16s competitors and gaining invaluable training each weekend.
“You look at the calibre of the fleet and who’s in it, and it really makes you go ‘wow’. It’s pretty amazing as a first-year skipper that I’m competing against these guys and I get to learn from them,” Sophie added.
The team utilised their learning experiences effectively, improving from their mistakes in race one to advance five places in the second race. “The first race we didn’t start well and had to catch up, but the second one we had a lot better start,” Sophie noted, emphasising their aim to excel in the youth categories at club, state, and national levels.
In the same series, Buckingham Marine Services and Red Pumps showcased their strength, each winning a race in a fiercely contested showdown. BMS started strong in the first race, while the second race saw a thrilling exchange of leads, with Dransfield from Red Pumps claiming victory by just one second.
In the 13s category, Botany Access and Harken took home a win each, but the standout performance was from Dive Co, which achieved two podium finishes on scratch to secure twin wins on handicap.
Fourteen-year-old Hamish, who sailed with his father last season, has found a competitive pairing with 16-year-old Toby, with ambitions of remaining in the top five this season.
Results from the event can be accessed at the following links:
13ft Skiffs Results: https://manly16s.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/13ftskiffresults-241026.pdf
16ft Skiff Results: https://manly16s.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/16ftskiffresults-241026.pdf
Words Adam Lucius
Images On Water – Michael Chittenden SailMedia
Images On Shore – Nathan Hopkins
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#SailingAustralia
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