75 Years of 18ft Skiff History

The 2014 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship on March 1-9 will celebrate the 75 year history of the world’s greatest 18 Footer event, since the first regatta on Sydney Harbour in 1938.

The historical significance of the 2014 edition is magnified by the luminaries that have been part of the class history. World famous designers such as Ben Lexcen, Bruce Farr, Iain Murray and Julian Bethwaite have all been successful as winners of the Giltinan Championship while the list of competitors covers every level of world.

Bruce Farr (left) and Julian Bethwaite

Color 7 crew (from left: Iain Murray, Andrew Buckland, Don Buckley) with the Giltinan Trophy

The Past Winners list shows:
1938 – Taree, Bert Swinbourne (AUS)
1939 – Manu, Geo. Chamberlain (NZL)
1948 – Crows, Nest Bill Hayward (AUS)
1949 – Marjorie Too, Tony Russell (AUS)
1950 – Komutu, Jack Logan (NZL)
1951 – Myra Too, Bill Barnett (AUS)
1952 – Intrigue, Peter Mander (NZL)
1954 – Intrigue, Peter Mander (NZL)
1956 – Jenny VI, Norm Wright (AUS)
1958 – Jantzen Girl, Len Heffernan (AUS)
1960 – Surprise, Bern Skinner (NZL)
1961 – Venom, Ben Lexcen (AUS)
1963 – Schemer, Ken Beashel (AUS)
1964 – Toogara, Cliff Monkhouse (AUS)
1965 – Travelodge, Bob Holmes (AUS)
1966 – Travelodge, Bob Holmes (AUS)
1967 – Associated Motor Club, Don Barnett (AUS)
1968 – Daily Telegraph, Ken Beashel (AUS)
1969 – Travelodge, Bob Holmes (AUS)
1970 – Thomas Cameron, Hugh Treharne (AUS)
1971 – Travelodge, Bob Holmes (AUS)
1972 – Smirnoff, Don Lidgard (NZL)
1973 – Travelodge, Bob Holmes (AUS)
1974 – Travelodge New Zealand, Terry Mc Dell (NZL)
1975 – KB, Dave Porter (AUS)
1976 – Miles Furniture, Stephen Kulmar (AUS)
1977 – Color 7, Iain Murray (AUS)
1978 – Color 7, Iain Murray (AUS)
1979 – Color 7, Iain Murray (AUS)
1980 – Color 7, Iain Murray (AUS)
1981 – Color 7, Iain Murray (AUS)
1982 – Color 7, Iain Murray (AUS)
1983 – Tia Maria, Peter Sorensen (AUS)
1984 – Tia Maria, Peter Sorensen (AUS)
1985 – Bradmill, Robert Brown (AUS)
1986 – Entrad, Robert Brown (AUS)
1987 – Chesty Bond, Trevor Barnabas (AUS)
1988
**Chesty Bond, Trevor Barnabas (AUS)
**Southern Cross, Robert Brown (AUS)
1989 – Prudential, Michael Walsh (AUS)
1990 – Bank of New Zealand, Scott Ramsden (AUS)
1991 – AAMI, Julian Bethwaite (AUS)
1992 – AAMI, Julian Bethwaite (AUS)
1993 – Winfield Racing, Michael Spies (AUS)
1994 – Nokia, Neil Cashman (AUS)
1995 – Winfield Racing, Michael Spies (AUS)
1996 – AEI-Pace Express, Stephen Quigley (AUS)
1997 – Omega Smeg-2UE, Trevor Barnabas (AUS)
1997 – Smeg, Trevor Barnabas (AUS)
1998 – Omega Smeg-2UE, Trevor Barnabas (AUS)
1999 – Rockport, Tim Robinson (GBR)
2000 – AMP Centrepoint, John Winning (AUS)
2001 – Rag & Famish Hotel, John Harris (AUS)
2002 – GE-US Challenge, Howie Hamlin (USA)
2003 – GE-US Challenge, Howie Hamlin (USA)
2004 – RMW Marine, Rob Greenhalgh (GBR)
2005 – Club Marine, Euan Mc Nicol (AUS)
2006 – Casio Seapathfinder, Michael Coxon (AUS)
2007 – Fiat, Michael Coxon (AUS)
2008 – Gotta Love It 7, Seve Jarvin (AUS)
2009 – Southern Cross Constructions, Euan Mc Nicol (AUS)
2010 – Gotta Love It 7, Seve Jarvin (AUS)
2011 – Gotta Love It 7, Seve Jarvin (AUS)
2012 – Gotta Love It 7, Seve Jarvin (AUS)
2013 – Gotta Love It 7, Seve Jarvin (AUS)
** Denotes Joint Champions

Source: Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League
www.18footers.com.au