JJ Giltinan 2013 - 18 footers. Iain Murray, the Big Fella arrived on the Australian 18 footer scene in the mid 1970´s as a skinny 17 year old. With Color 7, he won six JJ Giltinan Trophies in a row from 1977 onwards, after making major changes to the 1976 design of his boat which revolutionised the 18 footer scene.
These days as well as being the Regatta Director for the 34th America's Cup and CEO of America's Cup Race Management he spearheads the Gotta Luv it 7 campaign, as coach and technical advisor.
The defending championship boat was once again today impressive. Seve Jarvin, Scott Babbage and Peter Harris were near the front of the fleet for most of the race and squeezed into the lead, finishing a tiny four seconds ahead of Coopers-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney, David Witt, Mark Kennedy), with Pure Blonde (Tom Clout, Rob Bell, Matt Wark) only 20s back in third place.
In this tight racing where only a few seconds can produce the result, the technology race is all consuming. This season Murray has produced another technical improvement to the Gotta Luv it 7 big rig design.
A lighter stiffer rotating mast from Southern Spars has allowed lower drag, better camber inducing overall a more efficient rig overall which allows more sail area. Time will tell if it's another Championship winning move from the winningest sailor in 18 footer history.
Here is some background from Murray from an interview of a few weeks ago.
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