Honda Marine wins JJ Giltinan for the first time in Sydney

Final day, 2018 Giltinan 18fter International Championship, Sydney, Match 11, 2018 © Michael Chittenden

Honda Marine won the 2018 JJ Giltinan Trophy with the final race sailed in a fresh seabreeze on Sydney Harbour, on Sunday afternoon.

It came down to the wire, but Dave McDiarmid, Matt Steven and Brad Collins were just too good and snatched the win and the title.

Race 9 was held in a 10-12 knot nor'easter with two spectator ferries jam-packed full of both Kiwi and Australian supporters. While Honda Marine took first and Maersk Line was second, it was ASKO who claimed the final spot on the podium and the top Aussie in the regatta.

"I can't believe we were battling a Kiwi boat for the win, definitely didn't see that coming, but full respect to the Maersk Line boys. They've only been in the boat for about 15 days!" said Honda Marine skipper Dave McDiarmid.

"This win is a massive team effort and is awesome for New Zealand," said mainsheet hand Matt Steven.

Knight Frank (Riley Dean, Luke Stevenson and Tim Snedden) finished 7th overall with C-Tech (Alex Vallings, Sam Trethewey and Matt Coutts) finishing 8th.

"We had a good battle out there, and we felt like we sailed a good last race, but the upper number one rig conditions don't really suit us! Nice work by the Knight Frank guys," said C-Tech bowman Matt Coutts.

The JJ Giltinan trophy will be on the Air New Zealand NZ104 flight from Sydney to Auckland on Monday 12th March.

"This is fantastic for New Zealand 18' Skiff racing," said Auckland Skiff League President Graham Catley. "We have boats on the ramp back at Royal Akarana Yacht Club ready for sailors, and now that we hold the JJ's I'm hoping we can fill those boats with sailors and come back next year with a bigger team to defend the title."

The next major event on the 18' Skiff calendar is the ANZAC Championship in April, hosted by the Kiwis at their home club, Royal Akarana Yacht Club.

This is the only the third time that New Zealand has won the World Championship. It all began in 1932 when the M-Class "Manu" took the unofficial title. The JJ Giltinan Trophy was then formed in 1938, and it took New Zealand 36 years to win it again. Terry McDell, skipper of Travelodge NZ, claimed the title in 1974, and then it was elusive for another 44 years, until today. Sunday 11 March 2018 will be a day marked in sailing history.

New Zealand Team representing Royal Akarana Yacht Club / Auckland Skiff League
Honda Marine – Dave McDiarmid, Matt Steven, Brad Collins
Knight Frank – Riley Dean, Luke Stevenson, Tim Snedden
C-Tech – Alex Vaillings, Sam Trethewey, Matt Coutts
Maersk Line – Josh Porebski, Jack Simpson, David Hazard