Kiwi Magic Prevails at JJ Giltinan Championship

18ft Skiffs JJ Giltinan Championship, Day 6, Saturday, 10 March 2018 - Sydney Harbour

Photo: Frank Quealey/18 Foot Skiff League

Tomorrow will be an historic day in JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Racing Championship history when a New Zealand team will be the first Kiwi team to win the championship on Sydney Harbour since the first championship regatta was sailed back in 1938.

Photo: Frank Quealey/18 Foot Skiff League

Only Mersk Line (Josh Porebski, Jack Simpson, Dave Hazzard) or Honda Marine (David McDiarmid, Matt Steven, Brad Collins) can win the 2018 regatta.

Photo: Frank Quealey/18 Foot Skiff League

After a dramatic day of racing on Sydney Harbour today, Australian champion Smeg (Lee Knapton, Ricky Bridge, Mike McKensey) took the honours by just eight seconds from Honda Marine, with Asko Appliances (James Dorron, Paul Montague, Harry Bethwaite) a further 10 seconds back in third place.

Photo: Frank Quealey/18 Foot Skiff League

Finport Trade Finance (Keagan York) finished fourth, with Maersk Line fifth. Only 38s separated the top five boats in a hard fought race over the Easterly course sailed in 9-12-knots of breeze. Asko Appliances led for the first lap of the course but lost out to Smeg on the second windward beat.

Photo: Frank Quealey/18 Foot Skiff League

Honda Marine needed to finish ahead of Maersk Line to give the team the best possible chance of becomming the first New Zealanders to win on Sydney Harbour and was always in the top three and ahead of Maersk Line.

Photo: Frank Quealey/18 Foot Skiff League

Going into tomorrow's big clash, Honda Marine holds a two points advantage over Maersk Line but, if each team finishes outside the top five, then discards could change the table. Whatever happens, there will be a first time champion and the spectators who watch the race will see a great contest, expected to be sailed over the great North-East course.

Frank Quealey