Rookie skipper wins 18ft Championship

by Event Media on 28 Feb 2005 A ninth placing in the final heat was enough to give the Euan McNicol skippered Club Marine victory in the 2005 Ssangyong JJ Giltinan International 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour.

McNicol with crew Seve Jarvin and Tim Austin recorded placings of first, second, third, fourth, fifth and ninth for a final total of 24 points.

The trio narrowly defeated Asko Appliances (Hugh Stodart) which finished fifth in today's race for a total of 25 points.

RMW Marine (Rob Greenhalgh) was third on 26 points after defeating Rag & Famish Hotel (John Harris) on a countback.

Going into the final race Club Marine held a five points lead over Asko and Rag & Famish but midway through today's race was well back in the pack and looked to have no chance of taking the title.

It was Australia's first victory since John Harris won in 2001.

Howie Hamlin (US) took victory in 2002 and 2003, while Rob Greenhalgh (UK) was successful in 2004.

In Heat 7, Greenhalgh came from behind in RMW Marine to snatch a 12secs win from Australian champion Casio Seapathfinder (Michael Coxon) with AAPT (Trevor Barnabas) another 7secs back in third place.

It was the battle throughout for overall championship victory which held the spotlight until the very end.

The championship had everything; six different winners of the seven heats and an overall decision of victory which came to the last few hundred metres of the final race.

Remarkably, this is McNicol’s rookie season as a skipper, formerly crewing in the class. He was part of John Winning’s winning crew in 2000.


Final Results:

Final Pointscore:

1 Club Marine (Euan McNicol, Aus) 24pts

2 Asko Appliances (Hugh Stodart, AUS) 25

3 RMW Marine (Rob Greenhalgh, UK) 26

4 Rag & Famish Hotel (John Harris, AUS) 26

5 Team Pegasus (Howie Hamlin, USA) 34

6 Casio Seapathfinder (Michael Coxon, AUS) 36

Final Heat 7 Results:

1 RMW Marine (Rob Greenhalgh, UK)

2 Casio Seapathfinder (Michael Coxon, AUS)

3 AAPT (Trevor Barnabas, AUS)

4 Omega Smeg (Daniel Phillips, AUS)

5 Asko Appliances (Hugh Stodart, AUS)

6 Rag & Famish Hotel (John Harris, AUS)

Won by 12secs with 7 secs between second and third

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