Issue date
Erica Dawson is all set to jump on board the 18′ Skiff GC Racing for this weekend's annual Anzac Championship hosted by the ASC Skiff League and Royal Akarana Yacht Club.
Erica Dawson will take the helm this weekend. Photo: Suellen Davies / Live Sail Die.
The 49erFX and match racing sailor is taking the helm with Dave Hazard and Jack Simpson on board as her crew. Hazard and Simpson were the crew for Josh Porebski who sailed Maersk Line to second at March's 18' Skiff JJ Giltinan world championships in Sydney.
Dawson, who has been a regular on the international 49erFX circuit, is enthusiastic to get on the water and race as part of the competitive 18' Skiff fleet.
“I’ve been wanting to race an 18' Skiff for a long time now and this opportunity presented itself so I just jumped at it,” said Dawson. “It's great that I have Dave and Jack as crew. I’ve done a lot of sailing with Jack, both together on a 49er and as training partners. The fact that he and Dave finished second at the JJs is great, because I know their knowledge of the 18 will really help us in this regatta."
Although they haven’t yet sailed together leading into this regatta, the plan is to head out early to do a “few tacks and gybes” to get the feel for it.
“I’m really hoping that my skills as a 49erFX helm will come in handy for the 18' Skiff,” laughed Dawson.
As many as 10 boats are set to race for the regatta, including current JJ Giltinan champions Honda Marine. Four boats have arrived from Sydney and, with the six from New Zealand, it’s set to be a true Anzac event.
Results will be available via the dedicated 18' Skiff page on the RAYC website.
Dawson is also part of the New Zealand Women’s Match Racing team who were selected to compete in June's Women's International Match Racing Series in Helskini.
The WIM series is a year-long circuit of the highest level of women’s match racing events and Dawson (pit and tactics) will sail alongside Celia Willison (helm), Charlotte Porter (main), Paige Cook (trim) and Alison Kent (bow).
