In the absence of an official world championship, the JJ Giltinan Championship is the highest honor for the 18-foot skiff class. The 2022 edition on March 5-13 brings together 25 teams on Sydney Harbor to make their mark in the 84-year history of the world’s premier 18-Footer championship.
Sydney, Australia (March 12, 2022) – The Andoo team of Seve Jarvin, Matt Stenta, and Sam Newton wrapped up the 2022 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship today with another brilliant win in Race 8 of the championship on Sydney Harbour.
Andoo’s victory today was the sixth from the eight races sailed so far and, along with her two second placings in the other two races, has an unbeatable lead with just one more race to be sailed tomorrow.
The overall points standing after today’s race has Andoo on eight points (after discard), with the next closest Tech2 (Jack Macartney, Charlie Wyatt, and Lewis Brake) on 19 points. Even when Andoo includes her worst score so far the team’s total is only ten points.
After a tough battle with Tech2, particularly over the first lap, Andoo led for most of the course before crossing the finish line 54s ahead of Tech2 with Noakesailing (Sean Langman, Ed Powys, and Josh Porebski) a further 3m10 back in third place.
Finport Finance (Keagan York) finished in fourth place, ahead of Lazarus Capital Partners (Marcus Ashley-Jones) and Shaw and Partners Financial Services (Steve Thomas).
After Andoo on eight points and Tech2 on 19 points, Rag & Famish Hotel (Harry Price) is in third place on 35 points, followed by Noakesailing on 42, Lazarus Capital Partners on 46, and defending Smeg Michael Coxon) team on 55 points.
On the first windward beat to the Beashel Buoy, the fleet chose a variety of courses in the 10-16 knots NE wind with Lazarus Capital Partners, Finport Finance, Smeg, and Noakesailing prominent behind Andoo and Tech2.
At the windward mark, Andoo led Tech2 by just four boat lengths which was the fore-runner of a brilliant downwind battle to the wing mark off the southern end of Shark Island then the bottom mark off Clark Island, with just a few boat lengths separating the two teams.
The pair had opened up a big margin over the chasers which were headed by Finport Finance, Smeg, and a group including Noakesailing, Shaw and Partners and Lazarus Capital Partners.
WAs Black Swan (Luke Parkinson) was the best of the visiting team, in eighth place.
On the following beat back to the Beashel Buoy, Andoo was dominant as the champion team opened up a break of one minute over Tech2 and from that point the outcome looked obvious.
Over the last lap of the course, Tech2 reduced Andoo’s lead back to 20s as the boats headed for home, but once again Andoo extended the margin to the final 54s.
Despite having to finish behind the winner, Tech2’s performance was enough to take out the handicap section.
The ninth and final race will be held tomorrow.
Cumulative results – Facebook – YouTube
The 2022 JJ Giltinan has a 9-race series planned for May 5-13 with the scheduled races and re-sail of any abandoned races to be sailed on March 11, 12, and 13.
Source: Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League Ltd.
