A fleet of 20 skiffs will line up on Sydney Harbour next Sunday (7 November) for the 1st Heat of the NSW (State) Championship.

The race is the first step for the Australian teams as they build up towards the national titles in January and selection for the World Championship, which will also be sailed on Sydney Harbour in February.

Former world champions John Winning (2000) and John Harris (2001) are among many skippers expected to fight out the five-race regatta.

Current Australian champion Michael Coxon will sail “Casio Seapathfinder”, one of seven brand-new skiffs, and is looking to win his first NSW title after two previous runner-up results.

Two more new Skiffs will race for the first time on Sunday. Former national champion Tony Hannan will skipper “Maytag” while ocean racer Sean Langman will be at the helm of “AAPT”.

Rounding out the major chances in the championship are Anthony Young (“Computer Associates”), 2000 Olympian Daniel Phillips (“Omega Smeg”) and Hugh Stodart (“Asko Appliances”) who was placed third in the 2004 World Championship.