18 Footers: Main lead up to the JJ Giltinan Championship

Defending champion Seve Jarvin and his Gotta Love It 7 team go into Sunday’s Race 1 of the Australian 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour as favourite to retain the title, but it won’t be easy against a strong 19-boat fleet.

Following a late start to the season, the Gotta Love It 7 team has built up steadily with a string of good performances before the 3-weeks break over the Christmas-New Year period.

Jarvin, Scott Babbage and Sam Newton, who returns to the team after success in the AC on Team Oracle, will be put to the test by a number of strong teams with plenty of experience.

Two stars of the 1990s, Chris Nicholson (Mojo Wine) and David Witt (Sydney City Marine), along with Michael Coxon (Thurlow Fisher Lawyers), Jack Macartney (Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel) and Nick Press (Smeg) pose the greatest threat to Team Seven.

The championship will be sailed over five races (on five consecutive Sundays) from 12 January-9 February, and is the main lead up to the JJ Giltinan Championship, which begins on Sydney Harbour on 1 March.

Hopefull, the poor racing conditions experienced during the first half of the season have gone and the fleet can get down to good sailing in the traditional summer North East winds.

Entries for the Australian 18ft Skiff Championship are:

Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, Michael Coxon
Yandoo, John Winning
Asko Appliances, Marcus Ashley-Jones
De’Longhi-Rabbitohs, Simon Nearn
Appliancesonline.com.au, Micah Lane
Coopers 61-Rag & Famish Hotel, Jack Macartney
Gotta Love It 7, Seve Jarvin
Smeg, Nick Press
Pure Blonde, Nick Daly
Fisher & Paykel, Grant Rollerson
Mojo Wine, Chris Nicholson
Lumix, Jonathan Whitty
Rabbitohs-Kenwood, Brett Van Munster
The Kitchen Maker, Malcolm Page
Haier Appliances, Rick Peacock
Sydney City Marine, David Witt
Compassforex.com.au, Pedro Vozone
Viagogo, Alexandra South
Ilve, Ollie Hartas

The Australian 18 Footer League’s regular spectator ferry will follow Sunday’s Race 1 of the championship, leaving Double Bay Wharf, alongside the clubhouse at 2.15pm.

Video coverage of the races can be seen on www.18footerstv.com.

• View the latest race of the week – every race filmed from start to finish plus a 3 minute round up
• Register for the archive of the last 2 seasons (older races being updated)
• Enter pick the podium and win TVs, sunnies, yachting gear and much more

Frank Quealey
Australian 18 Footers League