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**Big Brass Balls** · 02-08-2016, 09:25 PM

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**Photoboy** · 02-13-2016, 11:39 AM

Wild Start To 2016 JJ's

18ft Skiffs:
Race 1
2016 JJ GILTINAN 18ft SKIFF CHAMPIONSHIP
Championship sponsored by appliancesonline.com.au
Today’s race sponsored by ILVE
Sailed for the George Peter Calligeros Memorial Plate
Saturday, 13 February, 2016
Sydney Harbour

A 20-knot North East wind and run out tide produced brilliant conditions for some wild spinnaker rides in the opening race of the 2016 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour today.

In one of the most incident packed starts to a JJs championship regatta, defending champion Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin, John Winning Jr., Nick Catley) made an outstanding return to their best form to take victory by 47s from NSW champion Thurlow Fisher Lawyers.

Thurlow Fisher’s crew of Michael Coxon, Trent Barnabas and Dave O’Connor chased the defending champion for almost the entire course but were unable to come from behind to beat ‘7’.

New Zealand’s C-Tech (Alex Vallings, Scott Barnes, Russell Wilson, George Brassell) was a further 23s back in third place, ahead of Smeg (Lee Knapton), Appliancesonline.com.au (David Witt) and Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney).

The incidents began even before the starter sent the fleet away.

Most critical incident involved the Lumix skiff (Daniel Phillips), which was badly damaged and certainly no possible hope of competing in the regatta.

Conditions saw appliancesonline.com.au installed as the pre-race favourite but the team’s hopes of starting the championship with a win were dashed when the skiff was recalled for being over the line at the start.

Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, Yamaha (David McDiarmid), Triple M (John Sweeny) and C-Tech, along with Gotta Love It 7 were among the leading group on the windward leg to the Beashel Buoy.

Gotta Love It 7 held a narrow lead over Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, Yamaha and C-Tech, with a closely bunched fleet hot on their tails.

By the second windward stretch from Clarke Island back to the Beashel Buoy Gotta Love It 7 continued to hold her lead over Thurlow Fisher and Yamaha and had increased th margin to more than 30s as spinnakers were set for the run back down the centre of the harbour.

7 maintained her advantage to the bottom mark off Clarke Island.

Thurlow Fisher Lawyers was still in second place but appliancesonline had made a great recovery, after her recalled start, to be in third spot, just ahead of Smeg and C-Tech.

Appliancesonline was unable to maintain the charge and dropped back behind C-Tech and Smeg over the final lap of the course.

Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel and Yandoo (John Winning) were among early casualties and both came from a long way back in the fleet to finish sixth and ninth respectively.

Race 2 of the 2016 JJ Giltinan Championship will be sailed tomorrow (14 February).
There will be two spectator ferries following Race 2, leaving Double Bay Public Wharf, alongside the clubhouse, at 2.30pm.
Anyone planning to follow the racing during the championship, on the spectator ferry, should make sure they don’t leave it too late to buy their ticket.

RACE DATES ARE:
Race 2 Sunday 14 February
Race 3 Tuesday 16 February
Race 4 Wednesday 17 February
Race 5 Thursday 18 February
Race 6 Saturday 20 February
Race 7 Sunday 21 February
All races will start at 3pm with the exception of Race 6 which will start at 4pm.
Spectator Ferry will leave Double Bay Wharf 30mins prior to each schedules start time.

Today’s result sheet and eleven images from the race are attached.

For all the latest 18ft Skiff news go to www.18footers.com.
There is Livestream race coverage of every race on www.18footers.com.au/sailing

Frank Quealey
Australian 18 Footers League

**Photoboy** · 02-16-2016, 10:15 AM

18ft Skiffs:
Race 3
2016 JJ GILTINAN 18ft SKIFF CHAMPIONSHIP
Championship sponsored by appliancesonline.com.au

The appliancesonline.co.au team of David Witt, Tom Clout and Tom Anderson dad to produce their very best form to take out Race 3 of the 2016 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour today.

In a highly spectacular and entertaining race in 20+knots of southerly wind, the heavy weather specialists had to come from behind after the first three legs of the course before finally taking the victory by 43s.

Defending champion Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin, John Winning Jr., Nick Catley) also came from behind in the first half of the race to grab second place just 1sec. ahead of Compassmarkets.com (Keagan York, Matt Stenta, Angus Williams).

After battling with the leading group for the entire course, New Zealand’s Yamaha (David McDiarmid) finished fourth, just ahead of Smeg (Lee Knapton) and another Kiwi skiff AON (Will Tiller).

The points are well spread at the moment and the contest is certain to be one of the most hard fought before the final race takes place on the harbour next Sunday.

Appliancesonline.com.au presently leads with a total of seven points, followed by Gotta Love It 7 on nine points, Smeg 11, Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (Michael Coxon) on 12, Yamaha 15 and Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney) on 20.

With a 20+knot southerly already blowing before the race, rig choice was made easy with all teams selecting the smaller #2 rig for the day.

A few teams, including the Gotta Love It 7 team, even went further and put a reef into the mainsail.

New Zealand’s AON held the lead from Smeg after the first spinnaker run, followed by Yamaha, Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, Gotta Love It 7 and appliancesonline.com.au.

After grabbing the early lead, the AON crew gave an excellent exhibition over the first three legs of the course to hold a 30s lead at the Rose Bay windward mark.

Unfortunately for the visitors, the Sydney Harbour traffic worked against AON’s crew as they were forced to drop the spinnaker to avoid a passing Many Ferry.

Applianceonline’s crew were quick to take advantage of the situation and led the challenging group back to be just a few secs. behind at the bottom mark.

The leaders were having an intense battle over the next two legs of the course as Gotta Love It 7 and Yamaha applied the pressure to appliancesonline.com.au.

Yamaha and ‘7’ elected to wait before setting spinnakers after rounding the Clarke Island buoy while appliancesonline went for the early set.

It made little difference as appliancesonline continued to lead the way at Obelisk, although Thurlow Fisher Lawyers had moved up just ahead of Gotta Love It 7.

Compassmarkets.com made a great charge down the run and was in fifth place ahead of AON.

The group behind the leaders was also involved in a tight battle.

It included Noakes Youth (Ash Rooklyn), Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel, Peroni (Nick Daly), De’Longhi (Simon Nearn) and Maersk Line (Graham Catley)

The next work back to the mark in Rose Bay was critical to the outcome and the race for the lead changed at least three times with appliancesonline, Smeg and Gotta Love It 7 sharing the honours.

As spinnakers were set for the final spinnaker run back to the bottom mark, appliancesonline led ‘7’ by 5s with Compassmarkets.com, Yamaha and Smeg all in hot pursuit.

Despite the challengers pressure the appliancesonline team were able to hold on for the win and only a few secs. many of the placings in the top half of the fleet.

Race 4 of the 2016 JJ Giltinan Championship will be sailed tomorrow, Wednesday (17 February).
The club’s regular spectator ferry will follow all races, leaving Double Bay Public Wharf, alongside the clubhouse.
Anyone planning to follow the racing during the championship, on the spectator ferry, should make sure they don’t leave it too late to buy their ticket.

RACE DATES ARE:
Race 4 Wednesday 17 February
Race 5 Thursday 18 February
Race 6 Saturday 20 February
Race 7 Sunday 21 February

For all the latest 18ft Skiff news go to www.18footers.com.
There is Livestream race coverage of every race on www.18footers.com.au/sailing

Frank Quealey
Australian 18 Footers League
www.18footers.com

**Photoboy** · 02-17-2016, 10:50 AM

The Smeg Rises

18ft Skiffs:
Race 4
2016 JJ GILTINAN 18ft SKIFF CHAMPIONSHIP
Championship sponsored by appliancesonline.com.au
Today’s race sponsored by Smeg
Sailed for the A.J. ReynoldsTrophy
Wednesday, 17 February, 2016
Sydney Harbour

The Australian 18ft Skiff champion Smeg team was back to its best form today to take out Race 4 of the JJ Giltinan Championship after a mighty battle on Sydney Harbour.

Smeg’s final winning margin was 1m11s over championship leader appliancesonline.com.au but this doesn’t truly reflect the closeness of the contest.

Lee Knapton, Ricky Bridge and Mike McKensey grabbed the early lead on Smeg but had to survive a race-long battle with David Witt, Tom Clout and Tom Anderson on appliancesonline.com.au before they received the judge’s flag.

New Zealand’s Yamaha (David McDiarmid, Matthew Steven and Bradley Collins) were never far from the two leaders for almost the entire race and finished only 15s back in third place.

Another New Zealand team, Knight Frank (Riley Dean) also put up a great performance to stay with the three leaders for most of the race before falling back a little over the final two legs of the course.

Defending champion Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin) finished fifth, after being recalled at the start, and John Winning’s Yandoo was sixth.

Provisional points after four races has appliancesonline.com.au leading on nine points, followed by Smeg on 12, Gotta Love It 7 on 14, Yamaha 18, Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (Michael Coxon) on 20 and Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney) on 31.

The position will be much clearer after tomorrow’s race when discarded totals will be more relevant.

Rig selection for Race 3 was automatic as all teams went for the smaller #2 sails, but it was an entirely different story today with hard decisions being made at the very last moment.

Appliancesonline, Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel and NZs C-Tech were the only in the top six placed teams to go for the big (#1) rigs, while Smeg, Gotta Love It 7, Yamaha and Thurlow Fisher Lawyers all went with the smaller sails.

The race began dramatically when Gotta Love It 7, Thurlow Fisher Lawyers and Triple M were all recalled for breaking the start.

Smeg’s team were quick to grab the lead on the windward leg from the start in Taylor Bay across the harbour to Rose Bay with the New Zealand trio of Knight Frank, C-Tech (Alex Vallings) and Yamaha hot on their tail.

Appliancesonline was close by in fifth place.

Unfortunately for the four-handed C-Tech crew, a torn spinnaker shortly after rounding the buoy basically put an end to their day and the crew had to limp around the entire course without a spinnaker and came home in 25th place.

At the bottom mark Smeg retained the lead from Knight Frank, Yamaha and appliancesonline and this group had edged ahead of the large group vying for the next eight placings.

[IMG]http://pressure-drop.us/imagehost/images/46900056556829176478.jpg[/IOMG]

Gotta Love It had staged a good recovery to fifth, ahead of Peroni (Nick Daly). Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, Yandoo, Noakes Youth (Ash Rooklyn), Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel, Mojo Wine (James Ward) and De’Longhi (Simon Nearn).

Smeg’s lead at the Clarke Island mark was out to 30s over Knight Frank, while appliancesonline and Yamaha were battling for third place, one minute from the lead.

Witt and his appliancesonline team used their bigger sails to advantage on the tight run to Chowder Bay where only two boat lengths separated them from Smeg.

Following the second work from Taylor Bay to Rose Bay, Smeg’s margin was 15s but appliancesonline was going to gain an advantage with her bigger sails on the run back into Taylor Bay.

The two teams as well as the two Kiwi teams which were hot on tails gave the crowd plenty to cheer as they raced with little between them over the following two legs of the course.

Smeg was just three boat lengths ahead as spinnakers were set for the run back down to the bottom mark but Smeg’s crew work was immaculate as they managed to hold off the strong challenges by appliancesonline and Yamaha.

Everyone viewing the race was totally entertained by one of the best races we’ve seen for a long while and the outcome of the championship is likely to go down to the final leg of the last race on Sunday.

Some of the top Sydney teams haven’t shown their previous form and as the conditions change over the next four days there could be a few more surprises in store for the crowds.

Race 5 of the 2016 JJ Giltinan Championship will be sailed tomorrow, Thursday (18 February).
The club’s regular spectator fery will follow all races, leaving Double Bay Public Wharf, alongside the clubhouse.
Anyone planning to follow the racing during the championship, on the spectator ferry, should make sure they don’t leave it too late to buy their ticket.

RACE DATES ARE:
Race 5 Thursday 18 February
Race 6 Saturday 20 February
Race 7 Sunday 21 February

For all the latest 18ft Skiff news go to www.18footers.com.
There is Livestream race coverage of every race on www.18footers.com.au/sailing

Frank Quealey
Australian 18 Footers League
www.18footers.com

**Photoboy** · 02-20-2016, 09:01 AM

Down To A 2 Boat Race

18ft Skiffs:
Race 6
2016 JJ GILTINAN 18ft SKIFF CHAMPIONSHIP
Championship sponsored by appliancesonline.com.au
Today’s race sponsored by Boards & Benchtops
Sailed for the ‘Big Kite’ Memorial Trophy
Saturday, 20 February, 2016
Sydney Harbour

Smeg (Lee Knapton Ricky Megan Bridge and Mike Mckensey) after discards, are on 13 points, followed by appliancesonline.com.au (David Witt, Tom Anderson and Tom Clout) on 15 points

New Zealand’s Yamaha became the fifth different winner from the six races sailed so far in the 2016 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship, when David McDiarmid, Matthew Steven and Bradley Collins scored a come from behind win on Sydney Harbour today.

The kiwi team have shown glimpses of their quality throughout the regatta but it wasn’t until today that the potential was realised and the team recorded a 34s win over the early race leader Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (Michael Coxon, Trent Barnabas, Dave O’Connor).

The young Noakes Youth team (Ash Rooklyn, Daniel Nixon, Rhys Mara) produced another top performance to score their second consecutive podium finish when the team finished third, 52s behind Thurlow Fisher.

Another New Zealand team, AON, skippered by Will Tiller finished fourth, ahead of championship leader Smeg, skippered by Lee Knapton, and Gotta Love It 7, skippered by defending champion Seve Jarvin.

As we go into the final race of the championship tomorrow, only two teams can win the 2016 title.

Smeg leads, after discards, on 13 points, followed by appliancesonline.com.au (David Witt) on 15 points.

Third placed, after discards, is Gotta Love It 7 on 18 points, along with Yamaha, also on 18 points., then Thurlow Fisher Lawyers on 22 points.

Noakes Youth has now moved up into sixth place with a total of 38 points.

Appliancesonline.com.au is the only team capable of taking the lead away from Smeg, but must finish no worse than third tomorrow and beat Smeg by two placings in the race.

Today’s race was sailed in a dying Southerly breeze, which was predominantly South-East, and all teams suffered when they were all rigged with their #2 sails.

Thurlow Fisher Lawyers brilliantly won the start and grabbed the lead from Gotta Love It 7 at the Clarke Island mark after a short windward leg.

The two leaders, and later Noakes Youth, were the only teams able to carry their spinnakers past Bradleys Head and into Taylor Bay, which enabled them to establish a good break over most of the fleet.

With so much SE direction in the wind, a full spinnaker run was an impossibility and there was mainly two-sail reaching on the run to Obelisk.

The windward ‘work’ back to the Rose Bay mark was little better as the fleet made the mark in one long leg.

Thurlow Fisher Lawyers held a 45s advantage over Gotta Love It 7 at Rose Bay, with AON in third place, ahead of Yamaha, Noakes Youth, Knight Frank (Riley Dean) and Smeg, which was more than two minutes behind the leader.

Noakesailing (Sean Langman), Peroni (Nick Daly). Ilve (Oliver Hartas) and appliancesonline.com.au were behind Smeg.

Thurlow Fisher Lawyers continued to hold the lead over the next four legs of the course until the fleet was back at the Rose Bay mark and only one downwind and one windward leg were left to sail.

As Thurlow Fisher Lawyers set their spinnaker for the run back to the bottom mark they were hampered by a large cruise boat and were forced to gybe away.

This put them off the normal line and into more traffic and the speedy Yamaha proved to be too much to contain as the kiwi team grabbed the lead and headed for home.

Not a race with a lot of speed or actions but a critical ‘race of points’ amongst the leading group as they battled to stay in contention for the title.

This exciting championship will now go down to the wire tomorrow.

Today’s Result Sheet, Progress Pointscore and images from today’s race are attached.

Race 7 (last race of the championship) will be sailed tomorrow (21 February). Race start time 3pm.
The club’s regular spectator fery will follow both races, leaving Double Bay Public Wharf, alongside the clubhouse 30 mins before the scheduled start time.
THERE WILL BE TWO SPECTATOR FERRIES FOLLOWING THE RACE.
Anyone planning to follow the race on the spectator ferry should make sure they don’t leave it too late to buy their ticket.

For all the latest 18ft Skiff news go to www.18footers.com.
There is Livestream race coverage of every race on www.18footers.com.au/sailing

Frank Quealey
Australian 18 Footers League
www.18footers.com

**Photoboy** · 02-21-2016, 08:48 AM

A New JJ Giltinan Champion Is Crowned!

18ft Skiffs:
Race 7
2016 JJ GILTINAN 18ft SKIFF CHAMPIONSHIP
Championship sponsored by appliancesonline.com.au
Today’s race sponsored by The Kitchen Maker
Sunday, 21 February, 2016
Sydney Harbour

The Smeg team of Lee Knapton, Ricky Bridge and Mike McKensey are the world’s top 18ft Skiff team following the team’s victory appliancesonline.com.au-sponsored 2016 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Champions, which concluded on Sydney Harbour today.

Smeg finished the championship with a total of 18 points to take the title by just one point from New Zealand’s Yamaha (David Mc Diarmid, Matthew Steven, Bradley Collins).

Third place went to appliancesonline.com.au (David Witt, Tom Clout, Tom Anderson) on 24 ahead of defending champion Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin, John Winning Jr., Nick Catley), on countback, after also finishing on 24 points.

Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (Michael Coxon, Trent Barnabas, Dave O’Connor) was fifth on 25 points and Peroni (Nick Daly, John Walton, Steve Thomas) sixth on 47

Today’s race began in a 7knot Easterly breeze with interest centered on the battle between Smeg and appliancesonline.com.au, the only two teams possible of becoming the champions.

Appliancesonline is a noted heavy weather team and the day’s conditions were heavily in favour of the Smeg team, which had a handy discard up the sleeve for the tricky wind.

From the outset Yamaha’s boat speed was unmatched by the opposition and the team’s crew work was faultless as it approached the first windward mark in Rose Bay.

With a 35s lead over Alcatel One Touch (Stephen Quigley), and a one minute break over third placed Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, Yamaha was in a commanding position as the fleet made its way to the wing mark off Clarke Island.

Gotta Love It 7 had been in fourth place at the windward mark but lost all hope when forced to sail up into the lee of Shark Island.

Triple M (John Sweeny) and Asko Appliances were next followed by the bulk of the fleet.

In a light, unpredictable wind over the lengthy course, the leading group maintained the advantage with Yamaha taking line honours by 1m21s from Peroni, with Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, just 2s back in third place.

Alcatel One Touch finished fourth, with Triple M fifth and Asko Appliances (Marcus Ashley-Jones) in sixth place.

Compassmarkets.com (Keagan York) came from well back early to finish seventh.

Today’s Result Sheet, Final Championship Pointscore and images from today’s race are attached.

To watch an interview with the winning Smeg crew, head to the club’s Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/18footers/

Next Sunday the Australian 18 Footers League will continue its club racing program when it stages the annual Queen of the Harbour Race.

In this race each skiff carries an additional crew, who MUST be a female. It’s always a great race, as well as a lot of fun for the ladies.

For all the latest 18ft Skiff news go to www.18footers.com.
www.18footers.com.au/sailing

Frank Quealey
Australian 18 Footers League
www.18footers.com

Announcement

2016 JJ's : A Year Without Hamlin

2016 JJ's : A Year Without Hamlin

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