73rd JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship Invitation Race

18ft Skiff 73rd JJ Giltinan Championship Invitation Race start © Frank Quealey

Black Knight and Lazarus during the 18ft Skiff 73rd JJ Giltinan Championship Invitation Race ©Frank Quealey

Andoo crew in action during the 18ft Skiff 73rd JJ Giltinan Championship Invitation Race ©Frank Quealey

Sponsored by Winning Group

With the nine-race Winning Group 73rd JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship due to begin on Sydney Harbour tomorrow, today's Invitation race was a final chance for both local and visiting teams to prepare their boats for the regatta.

While the result of today's race is not counted towards the championship points, the performance of the winner, and defending JJ Giltinan champion, Andoo was very impressive and the team of John Winning Jr, Seve Jarvin and Sam Newton stamped themselves as clear favourites to retain the title.

Today's race was staged over a two-lap windward-leeward course in a SE breeze of around 10-15 knots between Taylor Bay on the north side of the harbour and Rose Bay on the south.

The Rag leads Andoo narrowly at the first mark during the 18ft Skiff 73rd JJ Giltinan Championship Invitation Race - photo © Frank Quealey

Andoo trailed at the weather mark on the first lap of the course but blew the opposition away with a spectacular spinnaker run back to the bottom mark, and from that point there was never any danger of defeat for the champion team as they powered ahead over the final lap of the course.

Andoo crossed the finish line a 28s winner from Big Pete (Sean Langman, Ed Powys and Rhys Mara) with the early leader Rag & Famish Hotel (Harry Price, Josh McKnight and Harry Hall) a further 23s back in third place.

John Winning (Yandoo) and John Winning Jr (Andoo) during the 18ft Skiff 73rd JJ Giltinan Championship Invitation Race - photo © Frank Quealey

Yandoo (John Winning) finished fourth, followed by Smeg (Michael Coxon), Lazarus (Marcus Ashley-Jones), Balmain Slake (Henry Karkings), The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines (Alex Marinelli), 18 Footers Bar & Restaurant (Pedro Vozone) and the German team, Black Knight (Heinrich Bayern).

Burrawang-Young Henrys (Simon Nearn) and Yandoo led at the start but it was the Rag & Famish Hotel team which held a narrow 5s advantage over Andoo at the weather mark in Rose Bay.

Big Pete and Balmain Slake downwind during the 18ft Skiff 73rd JJ Giltinan Championship Invitation Race - photo © Frank Quealey

Balmain Slake was third, closely followed by Big Pete, then a gap to Queensland's Big Foot Bags and Covers (Dave Hayter), The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines, Black Knight, Smeg and Yandoo.

The Rag elected to sail a downwind course on the eastern side of Shark Island for the run back to Taylor Bay while Andoo's crew elected to go to the western side.

Andoo's move was a decisive winner as she opened up a 45s margin over The Rag at the bottom mark and the result was never in doubt from that moment.

Most teams used their smaller #2 rigs for today's race but if the predicted light Easterly breeze is present tomorrow all teams will no doubt elect to go with their big rig.

Race dates for the Winning Group 73rd JJ Giltinan World 18 footer Championship are:

• Saturday March 4 Race 1
• Sunday March 5 Race 2
• Tuesday March 7 Races 3 & 4
• Wednesday March 8 Races 5 & 6
• Thursday March 9 Race 7
• Saturday March 11 Race 8
• Sunday March 12 Race 9

For anyone who can't make it out onto the water, the League's live broadcast team will be out on Sydney Harbour to capture all the action. Live streaming is available at 18footers.com by clicking on the '18 Footers TV' link.

73rd JJ Giltinan Championship Invitation Race Results: