Kiwis learn valuable lessons during Invitation Race at JJ Giltinan

Honda Marine - Dave McDiarmid, Matt Steven, Brad Collins © Suellen Davies / Auckland Skiff League

It was a mixed day for the Auckland Skiff League / Royal Akarana Yacht Club 18' Skiff team at the 2018 JJ Giltinian Invitation Race.

The race was postponed for 10 minutes as the breeze settled and eventually got underway in a 10-12 knot southerly.

Knight Frank were late for the start after having a man-overboard situation however managed to get back into the mix.

Honda Marine had the best start of the Kiwis and were sixth at the top mark. By the bottom mark they had managed to claw their way to 3rd and were mixing it up with the top end of the fleet and eventually pulled ahead of Yandoo to take the lead. However unfortunately Dave McDiarmid, Matt Steven and Brad Collins sailed to the incorrect mark on the second upwind and their hard work was thrown out the window.

After being late for the start, Knight Frank then dealt with other issues after tearing their kite.

The young sailors on Maersk Line, Josh Porebski, Jack Simpson and Dave Hazard, in their debut JJ’s showed some great promise and stood their ground in the top 10 for the duration of the race, at one getting up to fourth.

C-Tech were placed in the middle of the fleet for the duration of the race. The team, Alex Vallings, Matt Coutts and Sam Trethewey only came together three weeks ago at the NZL Nationals, but their goal for this regatta was to “have fun and enjoy ourselves.”

Towards the back end of the race, Honda Marine managed to fight their way back to the pointy end of the fleet and by the second last mark rounding, the top three Kiwis were Maersk Line 4th, Honda Marine 5th and C-Tech 7th.

But it all changed again on the final leg of the course. Smeg, who was leading, decided not to the cross the finish line due to the old superstition that by winning the Invitation Race, means you won’t win the regatta. Instead they handed the win to The Kitchen Maker. C-Tech had a good last leg pulling off a 5th with Honda Marine 6th and Maersk Line 7th. Knight Frank, after a bit of dodgy introduction to the regatta, chose to withdraw.

The main event kicks off at 2:30pm local time (4:30pm Kiwi time) on Saturday 3rd March.

Invitation Race – Top 10 1. The Kitchen Maker 2. Harken 3. Yandoo 4. Quality Marine Clothing 5. C-tech 6. Honda Marine 7. Maersk Line 8. NoakesSailing 9. Appliancesonline.com.au 10. Vintec DNF. Knight Frank

JJ Giltinan - Schedule

INVITATION RACE – FRI 2 MAR (NO FERRY)

RACE 1 – SAT 3 MAR – 2:30PM (1 FERRY)

RACE 2 – SUN 4 MAR – 2:30PM (2 FERRIES)

RACE 3 – TUE MAR – 2:30PM (1 FERRY)

RACE 4 – WED 7 MAR – 2:30PM (1 FERRY)

RACE 5 – THU 8 MAR – 2:30PM (1 FERRY)

RACE 6 – SAT 10 MAR – 2:15PM (2 FERRIES)

RACE 7 – SUN 11 MAR – 2:15PM (2 FERRIES)

New Zealand Team Representing Royal Akarana Yacht Club / Auckland Skiff League

Honda Marine – Dave McDiarmid, Matt Steven, Brad Collins Knight Frank – Riley Dean, Luke Stevenson, Tim Snedden C-Tech – Alex Vaillings, Sam Trethewey, Matt Coutts Maersk Line – Josh Porebski, Jack Simpson, David Hazard