18 Footers sharpen their skills ahead of JJ Giltinan Championship

With the 2022 JJ Giltinan Championship starting next Saturday on Sydney Harbour, last weekend’s racing at the Australian18 Footers League was a final opportunity for teams to sharpen up their crew work.

Written by Frank Quealey

01 March 2022

In preparation for the world’s biggest 18ft skiff regatta, the JJ Giltinan Championship, the club arranged to hold four very short windward-return course races for a cumulative point score but the light winds throughout the afternoon did little to show the talents of the teams or sharpen up the crews for next week’s big event.

In the first of the short races, Dave Gilmour skippered Noakesailing to victory over the German Black Knight team, skippered by Heinrich Von Bayern, after the German team had led over the first lap of the course.

Race two of the afternoon produced an easy win for Seve Jarvin’s Andoo, but the race for second place between Balmain Slake (Henry Larkings) and the Black Knight, which had taken the overall lead in the event, was close enough to maintain interest.

In both races, boats which favoured a windward course closer to Shark Island fared better than those which went to the RHS of the course.

18 Footers Bar & Restaurant and Smeg in Race 1.

Two young teams in close battle.

Spinnaker action in Race 4.

Shaw and Partners Financial Services in Race 3.

Race 1 action.

Noakesailing, Race 1 winner.

From left, Noakes Blue, Noakes Youth, Noakesailing.

Heading to the top mark in Race 1.

Fleet action in Race 2.

Finport Finance, Super Sprint series winner.

Chasing the lead in Race 4.

Battle for the lead in Race 3.

Balmain Slake and Black Knight were in battle for second place in Race 2.

In the third race, Tech2 (Jack Macartney) was back in the winners circle after coming from behind the early leader The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines (Aron Everett). Tech2 was under some pressure from Finport Finance (Keagan York) towards the finish but held on for a narrow victory. The Oak finished third, ahead of Noakes Blue (Yvette Heritage) and Noakesailing.

The overall winner was up for grabs as the fleet went into the final race and Tech2 took an early lead on the first lap of the course.

Keagan York, Bryce Edwards and Phil Marshall were at their best in the conditions and came back strongly over the final lap to grab the race and overall victory from the Tech2 team, with Rag & Famish Hotel (Harry Price) in third place.

Final points in the series were: Finport Finance on 16, Tech2 on 22, Andoo on 23, Noakesailing and The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines on 24 and Black Knight on 30.

It was an impressive performance by the visiting German team which will be contesting the JJ Giltinan Championship next week.

The 2022 JJ Giltinan Championship will be sailed on Sydney Harbour, 5 to 13 March.

Race dates are:

March 5 Race 1, George Calligeros Trophy

March 6 Race 2, Cliff Monkhouse Memorial Trophy

March 8 Race 3, Alan Cole Memorial Trophy

March 9 Races 4 & 5, A.J. Reynolds Trophy

March 10 Races 6 & 7, Bill Miller Memorial Trophy

March 12 Race 8, Big Kite Memorial Trophy

March 13 Race 9

Spectators can follow the racing on board the spectator ferry. Booking online through the club’s website is essential.

Live streaming is available online by clicking on the ’18 Footers TV’ link.