18ft Skiffs NSW Championship Race 2 preview

by Frank Quealey on 13 Dec 2013 18ft Skiffs NSW Championship second race is being held on Sunday on Sydney Harbour. It is the last race for the 18ft Skiffs prior to a 3-week break over the Christmas-New Year holiday period.

The championship section of the season will commence immediately after the break when the teams contest the Australian Championship from 12 January to 9 February.

Then, the highlight of the year, the 2014 J. J. Giltinan Championship on Sydney Harbour from 1 to 9 March.

Although Sunday’s race does not count towards either of those championships, it is an important race and a guide to what may be likely to happen in 2014.

Much will depend on conditions as some of the leading teams have yet to get the best out of both rigs so far this season.

Defending champion, and Race 1 winner Gotta Love It 7 has shown great speed with her #2 rig, but is still to show the same level of performance with the new no. 1 sails.

The greatest threat to the ‘7’ team, Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton and Scott Babbage, may come from the consistent Mojo Wine team of Chris Nicholson, Mike McKensey and Ricky Bridge.

Mojo Wine won the 3-Buoys Challenge series which concluded on the harbour last week and displayed good form in all conditions.

Many teams are potential winners with the main contenders looking to come from Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (Michael Coxon), Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney), Smeg (Nick Press) and Sydney City Marine (David Witt).

Micah Lane’s Appliancesonline.com.au is another with championship potential, but an interrupted start to the season will see her better performances coming in the new year.