Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd - For the Obsessed

NSW 18ft skiff Championship starts Sunday

by Frank Quealey 23 Nov 2022 06:37 GMT 27 November 2022

Sunday's Race 1 of the NSW 18ft skiff Championship is the first step of a long campaign towards becoming the world's best team at the 2023 JJ Giltinan Championship next March on Sydney Harbour.

With the return of the triple Giltinan champion New Zealand team led by David McDiarmid, after Covid restrictions had interrupted its winning run in 2021 and 2022, plus an expected influx of contenders from Europe, the 2023 JJs is going to be far more competitive for the locals, despite the advantage of sailing on home waters.

The additional challenge at the 2023 championship will make it the best 18 footer regatta for several seasons but it will put more pressure on the top local teams.

Local reaction to the challenge starts on Sunday.

The Spring Championship series has given all Australian 18 Footers League teams the opportunity to tune up for the campaign ahead and Sunday is sure to bring out the best from the leading contenders.

The reigning 2022 JJ Giltinan champion Andoo team has a positional change with the return of skipper John 'Herman' Winning Jr to the fleet after missing the 2021-22 season.

Andoo and Rag and Famish Hotel in the type of action we're likely to see on Sunday - photo © Frank Quealey
Andoo and Rag and Famish Hotel in the type of action we're likely to see on Sunday - photo © Frank Quealey

Last season's skipper Seve Jarvin remains in the team and will sail on the sheet, alongside bowman Sam Newton.

The formidable, and highly experienced, team will start favourite on Sunday although there is likely to be a very strong challenge from the young, Harry Price-led Rag & Famish Hotel team, including Josh McKnight and Harry Hall.

Rag and Famish Hotel, the big threat to series favourite Andoo - photo © Frank Quealey
Rag and Famish Hotel, the big threat to series favourite Andoo - photo © Frank Quealey

'The Rag' team has shown great boat-speed over a variety of conditions since its new hull was launched less than one month ago.

Three other experienced teams with strong winning chances on Sunday include Smeg, skippered by four-times Giltinan champion Michael Coxon, Spring champion Yandoo, skippered by former Giltinan champion John 'Woody' Winning, and Lazarus (Marcus Ashley-Jones), which won the international Mark Foy Trophy regatta just four months ago at Lake Garda, Italy.

Racing through the fleet is close and there will be plenty of exciting fleet action between a number of young and new teams as they challenge more experienced campaigners.

There is little between a group which includes The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines (Alex Martinelli), Shaw and Partners Financial Services (Jim Colley), Fisher & Paykel (Jordan Girdis), Birkenhead Point Marina (Kirk Mitchell), Noakes Youth (Tom Cunich), Burrawang-Young Henrys (Simon Nearn) and Ilve (Cam Gundy) and this should guarantee a great opening race of the new championship season.

Fisher and Paykel is expected to be one of the improvers during the NSW Championship - photo © Frank Quealey
Fisher and Paykel is expected to be one of the improvers during the NSW Championship - photo © Frank Quealey

Two other teams still to make their mark on the 2022-23 season are Finport Finance (Keagan York) and Balmain Slake (Henry Larkings), who are both waiting to take delivery of their new hulls.

Spectators can follow all the action from Sunday's big race, and all races throughout the full championship season, on board the club's spectator ferry, as they have done for the past 87 years, which leaves Double Bay Wharf alongside the clubhouse at 2pm.

Booking online through the club's website www.18footers.com is essential 18footers.com/18-footer-racing/spectator-ferry

For anyone who can't make it out onto the water, the League's live broadcast team will be out on Sydney Harbour to capture all the action. Live streaming is available at www.18footers.com by clicking on the '18 Footers TV' link.

Related Articles

18ft Skiffs: Rod Zemanek
Shortened career for 18 footer champion Rod Zemanek doesn't have the same high profile in 18 footer history as many other leading skippers over the past 100 years, but he was certainly one of the best during a sailing career which was shortened by a business career. Posted on 15 Sep Architect of the grand design
You're talking about one hell of a journey, thus far, and there are a few things that could help I have had several conversations with one, Mick Miller, in the last few weeks. Typically, they've lasted around 40 to 60 minutes. An interesting guy, for sure. Now did I just hear a collective 'Whoop-de-do'? It's OK. I got it. Posted on 25 Aug 18 footer Nationals go to Brisbane
35-year wait will come to an end in January 2025 When the Australian 18 footer Championship is sailed on Waterloo Bay, Brisbane next January, it will become the first major 18 footer title sailed in Queensland since Scott Ramsden's Bank of New Zealand team won the Worlds on Brisbane River in 1990 Posted on 25 Aug 18ft Skiffs: William 'Billo' Hayward
“Second only to the immortal Chris Webb” William J. 'Billo' Hayward was not only one of the great champion 18 footer skippers at the NSW (now Australian) 18 Footers League during the 1930s and 1940s, he was also one of the greatest 16 footer sailors at StGSC for more than thirty years. Posted on 18 Aug The League's 90-year history of achievement
An incredible club in a league of its own As the Australian 18 Footers League prepares to celebrate its 90th birthday of 18 footer racing on Sydney Harbour in February 2025, it's an ideal opportunity to take a look at some of the highlights the club has achieved and promoted along the way. Posted on 28 Jul 18ft Skiffs: Vale Bob Ross
A great Australian sailing photo-journalist, editor and author When Bob Ross passed away recently Australia lost one of its greatest sailing and yachting photo-journalists, magazine founder and editor, book author and newspaper writer, who covered every area of the sport for more than 65 years. Posted on 15 Jul Australian 18 footers head to Italy
A strong 10-team is set for the European Championship on Lake Garda The Australian 18 Footers League will continue its international 18ft skiff program when a strong 10-team challenge heads off for the European Championship, which will be sailed on Lake Garda, Italy from July 1-5. Posted on 26 Jun 30-year journey to the top of the class
Simon Nearn sailed Optimists, Mirrors, 420s & I14s for years before joining the 18ft Skiff class Simon Nearn was living In the UK when his association with the 18ft skiffs began. Over the next 30 years, he has not only retained his passion for the excitement of sailing and competing against the world's best 18ft skiff sailors Posted on 9 Jun 18ft Skiffs: The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines
Outstanding 2023-24 performance by the young rookie team One of the real highlights of the Australian 18 Footer League's 2023-24 Sydney Harbour season was the outstanding performance of the young, rookie team on The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines from the opening Spring Championship series Posted on 19 May International 18s in the 1950s
A period of New Zealand-led design & innovation Following the first major change in the 18 footers from the big boats of the early 1900s to the 7ft beam boats of the mid-1930s, there had been no major change or innovations until the late 1940s Posted on 5 May
Copyright 2024 YY Online Services Ltd. registered in England no. 7895890
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy