Port Jackson Championship 16ft & 13ft Skiffs
Zoe Dransfield was surprised when her boyfriend suggested that Olympic gold medallist Tom Slingsby could join their team on Red Pumps Red for the Port Jackson Championships. Despite the odds of Slingsby’s availability being slim, he was eager to compete and add the prestigious title to his accolades.
With Slingsby onboard, Dransfield and 20-year-old bowman Jamie Stodart executed a nearly flawless race, successfully fending off competitors from the Manly club, including Modern Concept Constructions (Spencer McKay) and Buckingham Marine Services (Daniel Turner). St George’s Bosker Build finished fourth, while Botany Access (Chris Thomas) placed fifth, showcasing the dominance of Manly boats in the top five positions. Notably, Dransfield became the first female skipper from Manly to win the Port Jackson Championships.
“I initially thought it was a joke when my boyfriend Ben Lamb said Tom was keen to sail with me, given his usual commitments abroad and his typical day rate,” Dransfield remarked. “It was a privilege to sail with Slingers, who, despite being an incredible sailor, remained humble and encouraged our tactical contributions. On the way to the race course, he told us he was ‘unoffendable’ and to treat him as if he knew nothing about sailing 16s, which put us at ease and welcomed our input.”
Dransfield praised Slingsby’s calmness and his ability to read the wind shifts, stating, “I feel I learnt so much from sailing with him and would love to do it again.”
However, the race was competitive with a fleet of 63 boats in challenging light winds. MCC, with 17-year-old McKay, initially led the race before Red Pumps Red asserted themselves. Dransfield credited the other teams for a thrilling race, noting strategic decisions that helped them gain a solid lead, though she acknowledged that it was a contest that remained open until the end.
The intense racing, combined with Slingsby’s presence and three other Olympic sailors, captivated the audience. The livestream coverage, hosted by high-profile Olympian Lisa Darmanin and three-time national 16s champion Clint Bowen, attracted significant viewership.
In the 13s, Harken’s Heidi Bates and Orlando Sadlik showcased dominance, overtaking several 16s boats after starting ten minutes ahead. Buckingham Marine (Ash Napper/Theo Franklin) finished second, with another Manly boat, Red Pumps Manly (Jemma Hopkins), taking third. In the handicap division, Manly’s Bigfoot Sailing (Lily Klijn/Joe Corbel) secured the 13s title, while St George entrant Noakes (Amy Mulkearns) won in the 16s.
16ft Results | https://manly16s.com.au/results/2025-26/PJC16s/series.htm…
13ft Results | https://manly16s.com.au/results/2025-26/PJC13s/series.htm…
WORDS | Adam Lucius
IMAGES | Michael Chittenden SailMedia
REWATCH 2025 Port Jackson Championship
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