Coxon the champion

A report from the conclusion of the Asko NSW 18ft Skiff Championship

Despite finishing only fifth in today's final heat of the Asko NSW 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour, Michael Coxon's Casio Seapathfinder became the 2004-2005 champion with consistent performances throughout the regatta.

Coxon and his crew of Aaron Links and Nathan Ellis finished with a total of 8.75 points from one win, two seconds and one fourth placing to narrowly defeat Rag & Famish Hotel (John Harris) on 10 points and Yandoo (John Winning) on 12.5 points.

The series was certainly one of the closest on record with four different winners from the five heats.

Yandoo was the only skiff to win two heats but a slow start to the series robbed the team of possible victory when they recorded only 5th, 6th and 10th placings in the first three heats.

In today's heat Yandoo led all the way to defeat Rag & Famish by 33secs with Omega Smeg (Daniel Phillips) a distant third 1min 47secs behind Rag & Famish.

The race was sailed in a moderate ENE breeze which provided little difficulty for the fleet and the course was sailed in the record time of 52mins 53secs.

Results:

Pos	Boat	Elapsed Time	Handicap Place	NSW Points
1	Yandoo	52.33	1st	12.5 (3rd)
2	Rag & Famish Hotel	53:26:00	2nd	10 (2nd)
3	Omega Smeg	55:13:00	6th	13.75
4	Asko Appliances		14th	16.75
5	Casio Seapathfinder		15th	8.75 (1st)
6	SX Projects		5th	27
7	Computer Associates		9th	22
8	Fisher & Paykel		3rd	41
9	Maytag		13th	29
10	AAPT		18th	75
11	Churchills Sports Bar		7th	43
12	Team Morrison		11th	42
13	CST Composites		12th	46
14	Team Pomfret		4th	53
15	Panasonic		8th	57
16	Belle Property		16th	55
17	Club Marine		19th	23
18	Rosemount		10th	75
19	Aristocrat		17th	69