Latest News

2025-26 Season National, State and Club Results

Date: April 2026 - Source: G Halliday

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National Championship
National Champion: 986 Last Tango (StGSC) - G Caporn, M Couch
National Pointscore: 969 Natural Juices II (TASC) - K Davies, L Schroder

NSW State Championship
State Champion: 986 Last Tango (StGSC) - S Leonard, M Couch
Season Pointscore: 977 Take It Easy (StGSC) - M Winney, E Edwards

WA State Championship
Coming Soon

East Fremantle (WA) Club Championship
Coming Soon

St George, NSW, Club Championship
Club Champion: 981 Any Which Way - T Sellars, D Vlotman
Season Pointscore: 977 Take It Easy - M Winney, E Edwards

Full Details

68th Skate National Championship - Bunbury, WA

Date: April 2026 - Source: G Halliday

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The Skates are returning to Bunbury, Western Australia, a Skate Nationals favourite, for the 68th Skate National Championship.

The Championship will be hosted by Koombana Bay Sailing Club, located at Anchorage Cove in Bunbury.

The Race Schedule will be as follows:
29/12/26 - Invitation Race
30/12/26 - Heat 1
31/12/26 - Heat 2
02/01/27 - Heat 3
03/01/27 - Heat 4
05/01/27 - Heat 5
06/01/27 - Heat 6
08/01/27 - Heat 7 & Presentation Function

Additiional details coming soon.

67th Skate National Championship - Ceduna SA

Date: April 2026 - Source: G Halliday

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Meet the newest Skate National Champions - Gavin Caporn from WA and Matt Couch from NSW on 986 Last Tango owned by Sean Leonard from NSW. This is Gavin's third National Championship.

Runner-Up was 987 Mystery Road from WA skippered by Steve Hudson with crew Bodhi De Freitas - Steve's grandson.

The boats were tied on 11 points after Heat 7. Both boats finished with three wins each, but Gavin and Matt had two second places while Steve and Bodhi had one second place, so the Championship went to Gavin and Matt.

Just behind them in third were veteran crew Silvio Fico and Mick Minutello on 937 Gobstopper also from WA.

The Skate Nationals will return next summer at Bunbury, Western Australia.

You'll find the full set of results and race reports as well as photo and video highlights from each day's competition on the Competition page of this website and on the Skate Sailing Australia Facebook Page

Full Details

Skate 2025-26 NSW State Championship Decided

Date: November 2025 - Source: G Halliday

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Sean Leonard and Matt Couch with Geoff Hughes on 986 Last Tango are the 2025-26 Season Skate NSW State Champions.

The State Championship was conducted over two weekends in November 2025.

The St George Regatta, comprised of Heats 1 & 2 was held Saturday 15 November with Ray Simpson & Peter Howard of St George on 980 Double Decker Dog taking out the Lackey Family Perpetual Trophy for the Regatta.

A Skate Sailors Reunion held in conjunction with the St George Regatta was a well attended and popular event.

The Yarra Bay Cup, comprised of Heats 3 & 4 was held Sunday 23 November with Geoff Hughes & Sean Leonard of St George on 986 Last Tango winning the Basil Wood Perpetual Trophy for the regatta. Sean was particularly chuffed with the result, having previously won the same event 43 years ago!

It was great to have a number of past Skate Sailors at Yarra Bay to reminisce on the period in the 1970's and 80's when the club hosted an enthusiastic and successful Skate fleet.

The State Championship results were close with 980 Last Tango just beating the eventual State Pointscore winners Mick Winney and Emma Edwards of St George on 977 Take It Easy.

Full results of the State Championship are available on the Reports & Articles page on this website.

Full Results

2025-26 Season Club & State Sailing Competition

Date: November 2025 - Source: G Halliday

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Skate class competition for the 2025-26 season commenced in September 2025.

Racing programs and competition documents are available on the Competition page on this website.

Full Details

Welcome!Thanks for visiting!

This is a site for everyone interested in sailing, supporting, or otherwise getting involved with the 14 foot Skate class, a proud Australian design with up to the minute technology and a 67 year history across three states in Australia.
You'll also find us on Facebook - search on "Skate Sailing" or follow the link on this page.

Please contact us if you have photographs, newspaper clippings, Skate titles programs or other memorabilia.

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E-mail: info@skatesailingaustralia.org

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Website Coordinator - Greg Halliday

Last Updated 28 April 2026 0600am (UTC+10)