JJ Giltinan Trophy - Yamaha says Kiwis on the pace in Sydney seabreeze
by Richard Gladwell on 13 Feb 2016
Yamaha launches in Race 1, 2016 JJ Giltinan Trophy Christophe Favreau
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Yamaha skipper Dave McDiarmid says the New Zealand boats have made a massive step up judging by their performance in the opening race of the 2016 JJ Giltinan Trophy
Yamaha is the NZ champion in the 18ft skiffs and is one of a seven-strong Kiwi team sailing in this year's event on Sydney Harbour. The JJ's are the unofficial world championship of the class, and sailing against the top Australian boats on their home waters is always a big ask.
Yamaha finished seventh in today's first race, with C-Tech (Alex Vallings) being the top NZ boat in third place. C-Tech is turning some heads in the regatta as she is the only boat sailing with four crew.
The extra weight is playing her way in breezes such as today's race, which was sailed in an 18-20kt NE or sea breeze, and with a strong outgoing tide. The race was won by Gotta Love It 7, the defending champion, with Thurlow Fisher second
'We capsized on the second run when we were lying third,' McDiarmid told Sail-World. 'We recovered back to seventh overall.'
'We were second around the top mark for the first time, got passed on the bottom mark, so we were back to third. We got back into second up the next work and then we capsized going down the run.'
'We did a gybe with no turning,' McDiarmid said ruefully.
He said the sea in the harbour was particularly rough, caused by the wind against a strong outgoing tide and a lot of wake from the harbour traffic, despite the start being scheduled for 4.00pm to allow the Saturday water traffic ease.
One 18ft skiff was hit by a powerboat and lost her bow. 'We had to crash tack once and had some other near misses,' McDiarmid said, 'but that was happening to everybody. It wasn't that windy, but it was just chaotic - and hard to stand on the boat.'
'There were a few massive nosedives downwind,' he added.
McDiarmid was happy with Yamaha's speed in today's race and yesterday's practice race. 'We were matching it with 7 upwind. C-Tech was probably the quickest boat on the water today -upwind.'
'He was tenth at one stage - having to do a penalty turn on the first beat, and got back into third place.'
'He covered a lot of ground!'
He says carrying the extra crewman aboard C-Tech is unlikely to be a turning point in the class.
'It is just a weight thing. It is not so much having four crew, it is just the extra weight. When it is windy the more weight you have on the rail the faster, you will be upwind.'
'On Yamaha we have made a massive step up this year, ' McDiarmid says. 'We have the same sails and rig as last year, but we are just a lot better tuned.'
'When we went to San Francisco last year we found some very good settings for our #2 rig. At the end of the last JJ's in Sydney we found some very good settings for our #1 rig and have just stayed with those. '
'We have put another 10kg of crew weight on the boat which helps, plus we have had a very good season in Auckland - which didn't happen last year. We now have quite competitive racing at home now, which also makes a big difference.'
McDiarmid reports Yamaha is in good shape after today's race, with no damage. 'Just a hurt ego,' he chuckles.
The NZ boats were well performed. Knight Frank was lying fifth before she capsized. And Maersk (Graham Catley) was 10th most of the race in the 22 boat fleet.
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