Light winds continue at 2014 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship

Sydney, Australia (March 4, 2014) – A lack of consistent breeze forced officials to delay the start of Race 3 of the 2014 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship by 45 minutes on Sydney Harbour today.

When the race finally got under way, after one recall, three teams (CST Composites, USA, Haier Appliances UK, and Fisher & Paykel, Aust.) were black flagged, which reduced the fleet to 31 boats.

Despite very light, variable wind, which forced the starter to move the windward mark, then shorten the course by one lap, the finish was a great triumph for the New Zealand team which recorded a 1-2 finish.

Alex Vallings, Chris Kitchen, Joshua McCormack reproduced the form in C-Tech, which saw them take the San Francisco International Challenge late last year as they grabbed a 35s. victory today.

Fellow Kiwi team Yamaha (David McDiarmid, Andrew Archibald, Mark Overington) was a gallant second, just 5s. ahead of Australia’s top team Lumix (Jonathan Whitty. Aron Everett, James Hozack).

Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (Michael Coxon) was fourth today and has now taken the regatta lead over defending champion Seve Jarvin’s Gotta Love It 7, which could manage only a distant 12th.

The top six placings on points going into tomorrow’s Race 4 is Thurlow Fisher Lawyers on 9pts., followed by Gotta Love It 7 on 14, C-Tech on 18 Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney) on 19, The Kitchen Maker on 20 and Mojo Wine (Chris Nicholson) on 24.

Conditions were a huge test of all teams on the leg to the windward mark off Watsons Bay where C-Tech held a narrow lead over Yamaha, Lumix and The Kitchen Maker (Will Phillips).

At the bottom mark Lumix had shown great light wind speed under spinnaker to grab the lead and was 28s. ahead of Yamaha, with C-Tech back in third place.

The trio had opened up a break over Mojo Wine, The Kitchen Maker and Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel, which were also well ahead of the following group.

At this point, Thurlow Fisher Lawyers was in 8th place and Gotta Love It 7 was only 17th and a long way from the leading group.

Lumix continued to lead Yamaha and C-Tech over the next lap of the course, as the trio clearly had the race to themselves.

After two laps, the starter was forced to shorten the course by one lap.

At the final windward mark, C-Tech had picked up better breeze than her opponents to lead Lumix by 45s, while Yamaha had dropped back a little to 1m25s from the lead.

The three teams fought hard in little wind all the way down the final leg and produced a great finish for the spectators.

Click here for results.

Source: Information provided by Frank Quealey

Background:
The 2014 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship on March 1-9 is the 75th anniversary of the world’s greatest 18 Footer event which began on Sydney Harbour in 1938. Notable designers such as Ben Lexcen, Bruce Farr, Iain Murray and Julian Bethwaite have all been successful as winners, with Murray leading the charge claiming six consecutive wins from 1977-1982. In 2014, 5-time winning skipper Seve Jarvin will seek to match the master as Jarvin leads the Gotta Love It 7 team with Sam Newton and Scott Babbage. Murray is now the Gotta Love It 7 team manager.

2014 JJ GILTINAN 18ft SKIFF CHAMPIONSHIP – Race Schedule
March 1 – Race 1 (abandoned)
March 2 – Race 2
March 3 – Race 1 (re-sail)
March 4 – Race 3
March 5 – Race 4
March 6 – Race 5
March 8 – Race 6
March 9 – Race 7

List of Entries: 2014 JJ GILTINAN 18ft SKIFF CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Gotta Love It 7 – Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton, Scott Babbage – Australia
2. Thurlow Fisher Lawyers – Michael Coxon, Dave O’Connor, Trent Barnabas – Australia
3. Mojo Wine – Chris Nicholson, Mike McKensey, Ricky Bridge – Australia
4. C-Tech – Alex Vallings, Chris Kitchen, Joshua McCormack – New Zealand
5. Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel – Jack Macartney, Mark Kennedy, Peter Harris – Australia
6. Sydney City Marine – David Witt, Tom Clout, Matt Wark – Australia
7. Smeg – Nick Press, Dan Phillips, Dave Ewings – Australia
8. Yamaha – David McDiarmid, Andrew Archibald, Mark Overington – New Zealand
9. Fisher & Paykel – Grant Rollerson, Peter Nicholson, Geoff Bauchop – Australia
10. Asko Appliances – Marcus Ashley-Jones, James Dorron, Jeronimo Harrison – Australia
11. Lumix – Jonathan Whitty, James Hozack, Aron Everett – Australia
12. Pica – Jamie Mears, Stewart Mears,Matt Searle – UK
13. CST Composites – Howie Hamlin, Mike Martin, Nick Catley – USA
14. Winning Appliances – Shane Smith, Shane Dickson, Jake Restall – Australia
15. Yandoo – John Winning, Andrew Hay, Jim Beck – Australia
16. Appliancesonline.com.au – Micah Lane, Paul Montague, Tom Anderson – Australia
17. Haier Appliances – Rick Peacock, Tristan Hutt, Nick Murray – UK
18. Rabbitohs-Kenwood – Brett Van Munster, Joel Castle, Kurt Fatouris – Australia
19. The Kitchen Maker – Will Phillips, Malcolm Page, Cameron McDonald – Australia
20. Knight Frank – Riley Dean, Matt Coutts, John Little – New Zealand
21. Original Chia – Flemming Clausen, Soren Clausen, tba – Denmark
22. De’Longhi-Rabbitohs – Simon Nearn, Kieryn Cowan, Keagan York – Australia
23. Pure Blonde – Nick Daly, John Walton, James Smithers – Australia
24. Black Dog – Jarrod Simpson, tba, tba – UK
25. Maersk Line – Graham Catley, Matt Randell, Brad Collins – New Zealand
26. Hyde Sails – Jack Grogan, Sam Caslin, Michael Banks – UK
27. Magic Marine – Norbetr Peter, Finn Mrugalla, Eike Dietrich – Germany
28. Compassforex.com.au – Pedro Vozone, Jakub Jankowski, Daniel Watson – Australia
29. EuroLink – Friedrich Renner, Christian Meissner, Thomas Eggersdorfer – Germany
30. PB Towage – Josh Franklin, Tristan Hamilton, Barry Flanagan – Australia
31. Viagogo – Alexandra South, Locky Pryer, James Slee – Australia
32. Ilve – Oliver Hartas, Josh Marks, Tim Lake – Australia
33. Brisbane 18 Footers – Laurie Williamson, Daniel Smith, Nathan Smittmann – Australia
34. CT Sailbattens – Skip McCormack, Jody McCormack, Joe Penrod – USA