Shaw & Partners 18 Foot Skiff Team – Eli Liefting, Josh Schon & Sam Street
Proudly supported by new sponsors Shaw & Partners NZ – Eli & Josh are back off the back of a damage-filled JJ Giltinan’s campaigning the ASCC from 2025, with new crew member Sam Street bringing experience to an already stacked team. Eli is an ex-world champion & currently campaigning in the IQFoil for New Zealand, Sam is a multiple Waszp world champion with a wealth of other experience while Josh is a more experienced 18 foot skiff racer who also took out the Cherub Nationals in 2025.
Honda Marine 18 Foot Skiff Team – Craig Keenan, Pete Gamble & Gavin Ninnes
The Honda Marine team is unchanged from last year, with Craig & Gavin bringing years of experience to the team from 29er & 49er campaigning, Pete Gamble is still a fresh face to the 18 foot skiff scene but has a lot to add to the team with skiff experience of his own.
C-Tech 18 Foot Skiff Team – Alex Vallings, Brad Collins, Tony Fitzgerald
The C-Tech team has got two of the same crew from 2025, with Alex Vallings coming off the back of a strong 12 foot skiff Interdominions run placing 2nd on Sydney Harbour taking 4 bullets through the week. Brad Collins is a three-time JJ Giltinans winner with the old Honda Marina Race Team in 2018, 2019 & 2020, Tony brings a full 18 season worth of time on the boats, including a JJs run out in 2024 onboard the ‘new’ Honda Marine.
ASCC 18 Foot Skiff Team – Campbell Stanton, Pat Morgan & Andre Van Dam
This season marks a new driver in the Akarana Eatery with Campbell Stanton taking the helm, he brings with him a heap of skiff experience across 29ers & 49ers, including a national championship win and experience campaigning against the best of the best in the 49er class. Pat Morgan rivals this taking out a podium finish at the junior europeans in the 49er class in his career and also coming back fresh from the 12 foot skiff Interdominions, running the bow on the Monkey Wrench taking 6th overall. Andre’s competitive sailing journey includes being a reserve for the 470 Olympic team and a training partner for the Tokyo 2020 Olympians. In 2022, Andre took the bronze medal at the 470 Junior Europeans.
Akarana Eatery 18 Foot Skiff Team – Monty Alderson, Levi Jenkins & Harry “Willie” Wilson
This team has put a shift in to ensure that their boat is ready, repainted and racing – they will be on that start line! All three of them new to the 18 footers scene but not new to skiff sailing – Monty & Levi both coming through 29ers & 49ers, with Levi moving through to crewing 12 footers over the last couple of years. They are keen to shake things up and show that they’re here to play. Harry brings experience crewing 12 footers, contesting in the 12 foot skiff Interdominions last year in Auckland.
