Sydney 18s season kicks off
How do you know it's summer in Sydney? The cicadas start singing and the 18s are popping their kites...It is a truly iconic sight and certainly part of Sydney's culture – the 18-foot skiffs flying down the Harbour with their spinnakers set, barely in control. That means that summer is just around the corner... and it's on again!
The brilliant conditions which have prevailed for the opening races of the 2014-2015 Australian 18 Footers League season continued on Sunday (October 26) for Race 1 of the Club Championship on Sydney Harbour.
After all teams registered their new equipment, they took to the harbour in a south-east breeze, which gusted to more than 20-knots.
Two of the top skiffs had major skipper changes. James Francis replaced Seve Jarvin on Gotta Love It 7 and Hugh Stodart replaced Michael Coxon on Thurlow Fisher Lawyers.
The change on the ‘7’ red machine made little difference as Gotta Love It 7 (James Francis, Sam Newton, Scott Babbage) scored another brilliant victory – by 2m58s.
Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney, Mark Kennedy, Charles Dorron), sporting a brand new #2 rig, finished in second place, with Smeg (David Witt, Tom Clout, Reece Goldsmith) a further 1m30s back in third place.
Yandoo (John Winning) was fourth, followed by Compassmarkets.com (Keegan York) and Mojo Wine (Lee Knapton).
The Alf Beashel Memorial Trophy for the handicap section of the race went to John Winning’s Yandoo.
Organisers said it was a wonderful result when the trophy honouring one of the greatest 18 Footer men of the past (Alf Beashel) is won by one of the present great 18 Footer men.
Follow all the racing on the Australian 18 Footers League’s www.18footers.com.au website.
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