Family Ties

They say a family that sails together stay together.

At Manly, they also win together.

Teenage skipper Harrison Thomas answered an SOS from father Ryan and uncle Chris Thomas to pilot Botany Access in Saturday’s race seven of the long pointscore series.

And whether it was family telepathy, the exuberance of youth (Harrison) or the combined experience of Ryan and Chris, Botany Access sailed a superb race to be first across the line.

But they were made to work hard for the win.

With a reduced fleet due to the Belmont Bay Championships luring several boats north, the Manly contingent headed out in a building nor’ easter on another perfect summer’s day.

Shebang and Fluid Building (Chad Beeby, James Smithers, Dave Burkett) were calling the shots for much of the afternoon until BA made its move.

Shebang suffered a capsize at the bottom work before the Thomas boys eased past Fluid on the last work to secure victory by 13 seconds.

Aristocrat (Daryl Milham, Coby Napper, Liam Karunarante) was third with Typhoon fourth.

“Harrison’s sailed with us a few times on swap day and old buffers’ day, but this was his first real race and first as skipper,” Ryan explained.

“It’s funny because Chris was making all these phone calls trying to find a fill in and couldn’t find anyone and that’s when we thought of throwing Harrison in.

“He’s committed to the 13s but when we need someone he will jump in for us.”

Harrison is not one to big note, accepting his debut 16s win a couple of modest handshakes on water and back in the rigging park.

He said: “It was good fun getting out there with my dad and uncle in a race like that.

“Hopefully we get the chance to do it again soon.”  “It was good fun getting out there with my dad and uncle in a race like that. “Hopefully we get the chance to do it again soon.”

Asked if there was a chance of seeing the three Thomases as regulars in the 16s fleet in the years to come, Ryan replied with a laugh: “That depends on how long the old fellas keep going.

“Harrison will keep going in the 13s for a couple more years and fill in with us from time to time.

“He will sail in a 16 at some point but I’m not sure who that will be with.”

In the 13s, the old firm of Heidi Bates and Orlando Sadlik were back doing what they do best – winning races aboard Harken.

They put more than three minutes between themselves and runners-up Buckingham Marine (Ash Napper/Theo Franklin), with Imagine Signage (Beau Dransfield/David Tulk) next in.