JJ Giltinan 18fters- Racing in the Big Breeze - Heat 7 + Video

by Bob Killick and Sail-World on 25 Feb 2013
The video of the final race in the 2013 JJ Giltinan Trophy sailed on Sydney Harbour yesterday is now available.

The 18ft Skiff JJ Giltinan International 2013 was decided on a 25 knot plus NE Course 1 minefield, with Gotta Luv it 7's, Seve Jarvin, Scott Babbage, and Big Peter Harris victorious, and now have won four consecutive JJ Titles on the trot.

Even more meritorious was the situation the Gotta Luv it 7 crew faced to win this title, with a busted hull the week prior, Seve Jarvin's damaged knee - they knew the competition was hotter than ever for the JJ title and that they would have a real fight on their hands.

With Rag and Famish Hotel equal with Gotta Luv it 7 on points, this race would decide it between this pair. The deal was obvious to everyone including mentor and technical manager, Iain Murray. To win it you need to stay upright, and that's what Seve's crew did and the Sydney Harbour minefield took out all the main competition.

Rag and Famish Hotel drove it in on the first bear away, and after that they were looking good. But the pressure of staying upright was immense over the rest of the long downwind legs to the finish. C-Tech, put on great downwind display to finish second in Heat 7 and fourth overall.

The Rag's Jack McCartney, Mark Kennedy and David Witt came home in third and second overall, Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, sailed by Michael Coxon, Dave OConnor and Trent Barnabas suffered three capsizes whilst leading only to finish fifth on line and third overall.

Pick the Podium. Congratulations Michael Tozer who was our stand alone winner for Heat 7. Michael wins the cool Barzoptics Floater Sunnies and just missed out on the Appliances Online

Bar Fridge as he picked C-Tech (NZ) in third. Also he gets the Bragging Rights and goes into the draw for the Major JJ Pick the Podium Prizes which was cancelled yesterday and re scheduled to take place this week TBA.

See the video for the spectacular 25kts plus run down the Harbour featuring C-Tech (New Zealand) and another top heavy air boat, Smeg - who started two minutes late, but caught the fleet forced the pace for a while, before a rare heavy air pitchpole.



See the long version of the race on link below

Live Tracking: http://www.tractrac.com/index.php?page=eventpage&id=274!click_here

Video Coverage and ‘Pick-the-Podium’: www.jj18footerstv.com!click_here

For the current overall points score: http://www.18skiff.com/skiff-results/!click_here

Full replays of all Races 1 to 7 http://www.jj18footerstv.com/!Click_here