Zoe Dransfield made a significant impact during the recent heats of the Manly 16ft Skiff club championship, securing consecutive wins in heats four and five. Alongside her crew, Hugh and Jamie Stodart, Dransfield is gearing up for the final three heats of the NSW 16ft Championships and looking ahead to the national titles in early January.
When not racing, Dransfield serves as the head coach for the club’s junior division, specifically focusing on the Flying 11s. This dual role of competitor and coach keeps her busy, as she dedicates considerable time to both her sailing and coaching commitments.
Reflecting on the recent races, Dransfield noted the challenges posed by light winds and tricky conditions, stating, “We had a great day out… it was super light and shifty and pretty tricky.” Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, she expressed satisfaction with their boat’s performance, emphasising the importance of continued learning and practice ahead of the upcoming nationals.
The club’s junior programme has been instrumental in her development as a sailor, and she is pleased to give back through coaching. “It’s like a full circle moment… It’s been really rewarding to see how much they’ve improved this season and last season,” she remarked. Coaching has not only kept Dransfield engaged with the sport but has also allowed her to guide young sailors in achieving their qualifications.
Jemma Hopkins, another key player in the juniors, alongside fellow coaches Ash Napper, Tayla Lees, and Lachy Jansen, has also been impactful. This coaching team has been preparing youth sailors for the upcoming Manly Junior state titles while handling their own racing responsibilities.
While Dransfield celebrated her victories, four-time club champion Daniel Turner quietly ascended to the top of the series pointscore, recording a sixth and a second place finish. He remarked on the solid team dynamic and experience shared with his crew, emphasising the importance of finding incremental improvements despite limited time on the water.
In the handicap/crews trophy, Aristocrat (Tom Cameron, Daryl Milham, Liam Karunaratne) delivered strong performances with back-to-back wins. In the 13s, Harken (Heidi Bates and Orlando Sadlik) continued their winning streak, while Imagine Signage (Beau Dransfield, David Tulk), previously known as QED, also secured a double win in the handicap category.
Club Championship / 16s Results to Race
Club Championship / 13s Scratch – Results to Race
WORDS Adam Lucius
IMAGES Michael Chittenden
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