18ft skiff Update - Gotta Love It 7

by Andrew Palfrey on 6 Oct 2007 Over the past 6 months the 18ft Skiff team, Gotta Love It 7, has had a break from sailing the 18 footer and used this time to go to university, go to work and of course do more sailing in other classes of boats.

The team’s first season ended on a high after finishing 2nd in the JJ Giltinan Trophy series in February and winning the Interdominion Championship in Auckland during April.

The new season kick off on Sunday October 14th with the Alf Beashel Trophy, which is a handicap race. The NSW Championship begins on the 11th of November. The Australian Championship starts on the 6th January and the highpoint of the season, the JJ Giltinan trophy (regularly referred to as the World Championship for 18 footers) runs from the 15th to the 24th of February.

Here is a little of what each of the Gotta Love it Seven team has been up to for the previous few months.

Seve Jarvin has spent his off season sailing with CYCA Commodore, Matt Allen on his Farr 40 Ichi Ban. Seve traveled

back and forth to Europe, juggling his job in Sydney and his sailing commitments on the Farr 40. He was lucky enough to sail with and against some of the sport’s best sailors including people like Ernesto Bertarelli (Owner of Team Alinghi), Vincenzo Onorato (Mascalzone Latino Americas Cup Team), HRH Crown Prince Frederick and Brad Butterworth (Tactician onboard Team Alinghi).

Seve had a successful pre world’s regatta with a 2nd place and a solid result in the worlds with a 12th. Seve says 'It was seriously close racing with millimeters deciding whether you finish in the top 5 or as far back as 20th in any given race. I learnt a lot just being around all these great sailors, I can definitely apply what I’ve learnt here to sailing the skiff'. When Seve has not been sailing, he works at his father’s auto business involved in selling cars and learning the ropes of running the empire.

Sam Newton has been spending his time flying to Europe as well, doing some Farr 40 sailing with Lang Walker’s Team Kokomo, as well as working on the Transpac 52 Quest. Sam was in charge of delivering and preparing Quest for the winter regatta season in the Whitsunday’s. A big responsibility for a 21 year old. He competed in long offshore races such as the Sydney to Southport yacht race.

Sam is also involved in managing a youth team to race aboard Adrian Abbott’s 40 footer Kirribilli for the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race in January. Sam says 'It’s been great fun doing a variety of sailing over the winter season but I am looking forward to getting back into the skiff'. Now that he is back in town, Sam is concentrating on running his marine business at Woolwich. Sam looks after several yachts and works as a yacht rigger.

Rob Bell has been spending his time back at University, working on getting through his course as well as doing some sports coaching in sailing and various other sports. Rob hasn’t ventured too far away from the water, competing in the CYCA’s Winter Series, onboard Warwick Rooklyn’s Sydney 38 (ironically also named Ichi Ban).

He has also been honing his windsurfing skills on the harbour, which according to Rob still need a bit of work. Rob said 'It’s been enjoyable sailing on some other boats over winter but nothing is as much fun as sailing the 18 and I am more than ready to finish uni for the year and start racing the skiff again, I can’t wait!'

The team has been back into regular training on Sydney Harbour for the past month. Rob Bell commented 'The coming season is going to be tough with up to seven boats already out practicing each Sunday with their new crew combinations and new boat setups. It looks like this season is going to be very competitive with most crews having a good shot at winning on any given day'.

Gotta Love it Seven mentor Iain Murray and skiff team coach, Andrew Palfrey have had a busy winter campaigning aboard the Star Class yacht. Iain and Andrew are very close to being announced in the Australian Olympic Team over the coming fortnight. They head to Canberra on the 5th of October for a range of activities with the Australian Sailing Team at the Australian Institute of Sport.

Speaking about the Gotta Love it Seven skiff team, Andrew said 'The guys started out a little rusty back in the skiff, but we have a lot of forward momentum in the campaign at present. We are all better for the break away from the skiff over winter and each of the guys has developed further through sailing and life experience in that time.

Whilst we are a long way ahead of where we were at this time last year, in terms of skills and experience in skiff racing as a team, the season will throw up plenty of challenges. It has been great to see the big red Seven logo carving up the harbour over the past couple of weeks. After a few months of sailing Star boats with Iain all over the world in places like the US, Holland, Portugal, China and Italy, there is no sailing location as pretty as Sydney Harbour. The sight of the skiffs on the harbour caps it off'.

Best regards from the Seven Sailing Team.