Early win at JJ Giltinan Championship

Sydney, Australia (March 4, 2017) – New Zealand’s Yamaha 18ft Skiff team responded brilliantly to a dramatic week when they dominated the high class fleet in Race 6 of the 2017 JJ Giltinan Championship on Sydney Harbour today.

Despite today’s domination by David McDiarmid, Matt Steven and Brad Collins on Yamaha, the 2017 title has been won by Michael Coxon, Trent Barnabas and Dave O’Connor on Thurlow Fisher Lawyers.

Thurlow Fisher has a maximum total of 19, regardless of what might happen in tomorrow’s Race 7, and no other team can match their score.

The only possibility of an alternative result depends on the protest the Yamaha team has against a ruling made during the week, which significantly changed the team’s final score.

Progress points (after discard) are Thurlow Fisher Lawyers on 14, Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney, Peter Harris, Mark Kennedy) on 22, C-Tech (Alex Vallings) 24, Appliancesonline.com.au (David Witt, Tom Anderson, Tom Clout) 25, Smeg (Lee Knapton) 26 and Yamaha on 27.

Yamaha returned to the form the team showed in the first two races of the championship and won by a massive 3m42s in today’s race.

Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel continued their consistent form throughout the championship to take second place, 30s ahead of Appliancesonline.com.au.

Right from the start, Yamaha showed great speed upwind to the windward mark off Clark Island, with Coopers 62-Rag & Famish, Thurlow Fisher Lawyers and De’Longhi (Simon Nearn) in hot pursuit.

The spinnaker run from the Clark Island to Obelisk produced some brilliant sailing and spectacular viewing for the spectator fleet but little change in the order at the head of the fleet..

On the following leg back to Rose Bay, Yamaha was superb as the team opened up a 30s lead over Coopers-Rag, Thurlow Fisher, C-Tech, De’Longhi, Appliancesonline, Yandoo (John Winning), Knight Frank (Riley Dean) and The Kitchen Maker (Stephen Quigley).

Yamaha’s superiority was total as the team continued to increase the lead on every leg of the southerly course.

The race for second place became a three way battle between Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel, Appliancesonline and Thurlow Fisher Lawyers with only a few secs. separating the skiffs as they approached the Rose Bay mark on the second lap of the course.

While the race for second place was close, Yamaha’s lead at that point was 3minutes.

C-Tech, De’Longhi, Yandoo and Knight Frank all sailed well to fill the next four positions while Asko Appliances (Marcus Ashley-Jones) and compassmarkets.com (Keagan York) completed the top ten placings.

With more good wind predicted for tomorrow the race to fill the placings behind Thurlow Fisher Lawyers should be sensational.

After the race David McDiarmid said: “Going into the race we decided to become more aggressive, and smoked them.”

“We’re obviously disappointed that the regatta is going to be decided in the protest room.”

Race 7 (last race of the JJ Giltinan Championship) will be sailed tomorrow at 3pm.

Race Dates:
Race 1 Saturday February 25
Race 2 Sunday February 26
Race 3 Tuesday February 28
Race 4 Wednesday March 1
Race 5 Thursday March 2
Race 6 Saturday March 4
Race 7 Sunday March 5

All races will be streamed live to enable everyone to follow the entire championship on the computer or other smart device from anywhere in the world.

Event details – Entry list – Race Six Results

Background: In the absence of an official world championship, the JJ Giltinan Championship is the highest honor for the 18-foot class. The 2017 edition on February 25 to March brings together on Sydney Harbor 26 elite teams from five nations to vie for the class’s most esteemed trophy.

Source: Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League