Change in depth for the 18s
Change in depth for the 18s
by Frank Quealey 8 Feb 06:08 GMT
Inside the midst of the lead as a lot because the 73rd JJ Giltinan World 18ft Skiff Championship subsequent month, the Australian 18 Footers League staged a three-race short-course assortment last Friday night time on Sydney Harbour, which featured former 18 footer skippers crusing boats from the current fleet.
The ‘Supercup’ assortment of races, sponsored by Balmain Private, was sailed in an 8-12 knot South East breeze and resulted in a victory for 2005-06 Australian 18ft Skiff champion Hugh Stodart, and his Balmain Slake group of Miles Davey and Flynn Twomey.
Balmain Slake gained the first two of the three races, and accomplished third in Race 3, to finish with an entire of 5 elements whole.
Second place inside the assortment went to Smeg, skippered for the day by 1985 Sydney-Hobart line honours winner, and NSW 18ft skiff champion inside the Nineties, Warwick Rooklyn.
Rooklyn had Smeg’s frequent group of Ricky Bridge and Tom Anderson with him on the skiff which accomplished with an entire of 12 elements from the three races.
Third place whole went to Rag & Famish Resort, which had 2001 Giltinan world champion John Harris in price. It was a blast-from-the-past for Harris, who was sponsored by Rag & Famish Resort when he gained the world’s largest 18 footer trophy.
Harris’s group included the skiff’s peculiar skipper Harry Price and Josh McKnight.
A win in Race 3 for ‘The Rag’ group was adequate to supply it third place on a rely once more, with a closing full of 14 elements, over the present Giltinan world champion skiff, Andoo, skippered by youthful Joel Beashel.
2018-19 Australian 18ft Skiff champion James Dorron accomplished fifth on Lazarus, with an entire of 18 elements, ahead of Olympic gold medallist Malcolm Net web page, skippering Shaw and Companions Financial Suppliers, on twenty elements, in sixth place.
Completely different ‘customer’ skippers inside the fleet included twice Giltinan world champion Michael Spies (The Kitchen Maker-Caesarstone), twice Australian 18ft skiff champion Jack Macartney (Birkenhead Degree Marina), Olympic gold medallist Tom Burton (Finport Finance), along with completely different foremost 18 footer skippers Nick Press (Noakes Blue), Gary Phillips (Fisher & Paykel), Andrew Cuddihy (Burrawang-Youthful Henrys) and Michael Carter (Marine Outlet) from the earlier.
Friday’s victorious skipper, Hugh Stodart was delighted with the win and had nothing nevertheless reward for everyone concerned with the event.
“Firstly, I was lucky to group with such gifted youthful sailors as Miles and Flynn in a terrific new skiff, which merely occurred to be sponsored by the event sponsor.”
“I really beloved the whole experience. A number of the customer skippers acquired right here from the equivalent interval as I did, and the ambiance on the League was good.”
“I’m so grateful to the membership, the Balmain Slake group, and the boat’s sponsor, for the prospect to sail such a terrific skiff so close to the primary championship subsequent month.”
Each boat’s frequent skipper was once more on board as soon as extra last Sunday when the fleet resumed its price in route of the Giltinan World Championship, which can doubtless be sailed on Sydney Harbour from March 4-12.
Sunday’s race was a terrific enhance for the Rag & Famish Resort group, which gained the start and led all one of the best ways for a 45s victory over Smeg and an 18-boat fleet.
It has been a lean time these days for the gifted Rag & Famish Resort group, nevertheless Sunday’s win and the most recent Australian Championship victory by Finport Finance has added one different dimension to subsequent month’s championship
With merely two additional races to be sailed earlier to lining up for the ‘worlds’, Sunday’s race turns into far more vital than being one different race for the Australian 18 Footers League Membership Championship.
Photos by Michael Chittenden, along with drone photographs from the Sail Media livestream video safety of 18 footer racing, are attached.
Spectators can adjust to the movement on board the membership’s spectator ferry, as they’ve achieved for the earlier 87 years, which leaves Double Bay Wharf alongside the clubhouse at 2pm.
Reserving on-line by way of the membership’s website www.18footers.com is vital, 18footers.com/18-footer-racing/spectator-ferry.