18 footers in Europe – all dressed up and no where to go
by Célia Mas-Delfault/amended by Sail-World on 29 Jun 2009
A strong field of 18 foot skiffs from Australia, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, New Zealand and Switzerland have assembled at the Yacht Club de Carnac for the inaugural Mark Foy Trophy series from 28th June to 4th July.
There was plenty of summer sunshine on Day one, just no wind and the Race Committee kept the fleet ashore.
And an exceptional fleet it is too. Among the helmsmen, there are four winners of the JJ Giltinan International Championship, which is contest each year on Sydney Harbour, the 18 footer World championship.
Australian Trevor Barnabas, the most titled of them, has brought together with his family team two generations of champions on 24Hr Road Service.
It’s his son Trent 'the weapon' Barnabas, current JJ titleholder, is bow. Daniel Philips completes this formidable crew.
Amongst the five other Australian boats, there is another significant family. The Winnings. John, the father (Yandoo), tireless veteran and generous sponsor of this amateur class and John junior (Appliancesonline), the son who has won several races during the last 'JJ', will be for sure two serious candidate for victory.
If the winds are light, we should keep an eye on Grant Rollerson (Slam) and its team (Michael Coxon, double winner of the JJ on Fiat in 2006 and 2007).
The three proud New Zealand crews who have come to Carnac should also give the Europeans a hard time.
Hopefully, the large numbers of boats from the English fleet hold their end up.
Robert Greenhalgh (Benny), the 2004 JJ winner has only just disembarked from the VOR 70 Puma in the Volvo Ocean Race. He has taken the most of this day to retune some very fine settings he has the knack of finding.
The crew of Pindar, skipped by Andy Richards, current European champions, those from Pica (Jamie Mears), Ronstan (Iain Turnbull), Investec Private Bank (Mason Woodworth), TMF Group (Jarrod Simpson) but also Gill/Wild Graphics (Ed Brown) are capable of winning a race and should be taken into account.
The American Howard Hamlin (Macquarie), twice winner of the JJ, a last minute entrant has twice won the JJ and will be a proud defender of the Stars and Stripes and the Danish Flemming Clausen, hardwearing competitor capable with his solid crew of astounding speeds as soon as the wind rises.
Two Hungarian crews, three French, three German and a Swiss complete the list which promises tight starts and very hot mark roundings!
GPS have been installed on the boats for a live broadcasting of the race on the website of the organizing club: www.yccarnac.com.
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