18ft Skiffs – Club Champs Race 13

Race Sponsor: Burrawang Village Hotel
Sunday, 5 February, 2023
Sydney Harbour

With just two more championship races to be sailed before the 73rd JJ Giltinan World 18ft Skiff Championship is held on Sydney Harbour, today’s Burrawang Village Hotel-sponsored Australian 18 Footers League Club Championship took on more importance than ever.

Rag & Famish Hotel was too good on the day
Rag & Famish Hotel was too good on the day

In a 10-12 knot Easterly breeze, the Rag & Famish Hotel team of Harry Price, Josh McKnight and Michael Kennedy won the start and sailed a perfect race to record an all the way 45s win over the 18-boat fleet.

It was a timely return to form for the young Rag & Famish Hotel team, who has not had the best of fortune over the past couple of months, and has added even more interest at the top of the fleet in the upcoming Giltinan Championship.

Smeg gave a game chase to finish second
Smeg gave a game chase to finish second

Smeg’s Michael Coxon, Ricky Bridge and Tom Anderson continue to improve with each race and grabbed second place, 15s ahead of a fast-finishing Andoo (John Winning Jr, Seve Jarvin and Sam Newton).

Lazarus and Smeg duel
Lazarus and Smeg duel

Former Australian champion James Dorron, skippering Lazarus, as a replacement for Marcus Ashley-Jones, finished fourth, ahead of Finport Finance (Keagan York) and Yandoo (John Winning).

Andoo's crew lead the Club Championship after finishing thid today
Andoo’s crew lead the Club Championship after finishing thid today

With two more races still to be sailed in the championship, Andoo leads with a total of 27 points, followed by Smeg on 38, Lazarus on 49, Yandoo 50, Shaw and Partners Financial Services (Jim Colley) 66 and today’s winner Rag & Famish Hotel on 72.

Yandoo is in fourth place in the club championship
Yandoo is in fourth place in the club championship

In today’s race, The Rag’s crew tacked soon after winning the start and led the fleet by 30s at the top mark south of Shark Island near Rose Bay.

The race for second place produced a close downwind battle between two former Australian champion skippers James Dorron and Michael Coxon as they drove their respective Lazarus and Smeg skiffs down the harbour to the bottom mark off Kurraba Point.

Finish for fourth and fifth places
Finish for fourth and fifth places

Finport Finance, Burrawang-Young Henrys (Simon Nearn), Yandoo, Andoo, Marine Outlet (Cam Gundy), Fisher & Paykel (Jordan Girdis) and Shaw and Partners were also not far behind in a large group.

As the fleet headed back to the top mark on the second beat, Rag & Famish had doubled her lead and maintained much of the margin through the entire leg to lead by 55s as spinnakers were then set for the next run back to Kurraba Point.

Lazarus Youth team
Lazarus Youth team

Smeg was still in second place ahead of Lazarus while Andoo was beginning to make a move and had worked her way into fourth spot ahead of Finport Finance and Yandoo.

Over the final two legs of the course, Smeg put out a strong challenge for the lead but the Rag & Famish Hotel team was more than ready and withstood all the challenges before crossing the finish line a well-deserved winner on the day.

The Kitchen Maker-Caesarstone won the President's Cup
The Kitchen Maker-Caesarstone won the President’s Cup

The Presidents Trophy was held in conjunction with the Club Championship and resulted in a great win for The Kitchen Maker-Caesarstone, sailed by Lachlan Steel, Jerome Watts and Finn Rodowicz.

NOTE: 73rd JJ Giltinan World Championship will be sailed on Sydney Harbour from March 4-12.

Next week the Australian 18 Footers League will stage the next heat of the Club Championship, on Sunday, February 12.

Fisher & Paykel
Fisher & Paykel

Spectators can follow the action 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,
http://18footers.com/18-footer-racing/spectator-ferry/

Burrawang-Young Henrys was with the leading group on the first lap of the course
Burrawang-Young Henrys was with the leading group on the first lap of the course

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.

Birkenhead Point Marina races to the finish line ahead of Noakes Blue
Birkenhead Point Marina races to the finish line ahead of Noakes Blue

For all the club’s racing and up-to-date news:
Club Website www.18footers.com
Twitter @18skiff
Instagram @18skiff
Facebook International 18ft Skiff

Balmain Slake
Balmain Slake

For anyone who wants to take a look at Sail Media’s action videos from the 2021-22 season, including the 2022 JJ Giltinan Championship, go to www.18footers.com and click on the ’18 Footers TV’ link.

Frank Quealey
Australian 18 Footers League Ltd.

Australian champion Finport Finance and NSW champion Andoo in action
Australian champion Finport Finance and NSW champion Andoo in action
Andoo's crew lead the Club Championship after finishing thid today
Andoo’s crew lead the Club Championship after finishing thid today
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