The Napper family is going to need a bigger trophy cabinet

A week after Rob Napper collected his fifth Australian 16ft Championship title crewing aboard IMEI, son Ash has skippered Manly boat Brace to victory in the national Flying 11 titles at St George.

Combining with Taj Bridge, young Ash peeled off four wins, a second and a third to successfully defend the crown the pair won 12 months ago.

With older brother Coby guiding CyberTechGroup.org to a win in the Australian 13ft Championships last year, there’s no shortage of silverware on the Napper mantlepiece.

But the latest win wasn’t without its challenges.

Sydney’s wild weather late last week saw racing abandoned for two days, leaving the 37-strong fleet with time to kill before sailing resumed on Sunday.

When the all-clear was given, Brace put an exclamation mark on the regatta by claiming a second and first in the final two heats.

Then, just hours after the presentation at St George Sailing Club, the three male Nappers swapped sailing equipment for ski gear and headed to Sydney Airport for a flight to Japan to join the rest of the family.

“It’s been a busy couple of weeks but has been worth it all,” Rob said while hopping on a train in Japan.

“They did well to get a series done in the end (at St George). Ash just stayed pretty composed and was prepared to sail in whatever conditions he got and him and Taj just work so well together.”

The boys excelled in the heavier conditions, with a hat-trick of wins on day two setting up the victory.

Ash and Taj, son of 16s champion Ricky Bridge, will now go their separate ways after claiming two Flying 11 and two Manly Junior Australian championships in their five years together.

“I think Taj will steer in a Flying 11 next year and Ash will steer a 13 and they’re hoping to get back together one day,” Rob said.

“It’s been a nice journey for the two families. To see the next generation coming through is pretty exciting.”

Ash said: “Our first day wasn’t great and the second day was a lot better but then we didn’t really know what was going to happen with the weather.

“It was good to win again with Taj in our last time in the 11s. We have been sailing so long that our communication is really good and we work well together.”

 

Two Manly boats – Don’t Worry (Harrison Thomas/Heidi Bates) and Cookie Monster (Lachlan Jansen/Alana Jansen) – finished second and third respectively, with clubmate Prancing Horse (Harvey Windust/Rose Harris) taking handicap honours.

 

FINAL RESULTS

 

  Words by Adam Lucius