High Octane One Designs

18ft Skiff Racing’s greatest challenge begins on Sydney Harbour on 12^th February when 31 of the world’s best crews line up to contest the 61^st J.J. Giltinan Trophy Championship.

With six past champions and a host of world and international championship-winning challengers all vying for the title in similar boats, the racing on Sydney Harbour will be a “WAR ON WATER” during the seven-race regatta.

Previous champions are:

Michael Coxon                                    Australia                                  2006, 2007

Rob Greenhalgh                                  UK                                            2004

Howie Hamlin                                     USA                                          2002, 2003

John Harris                                          Australia                                  2001

Seve Jarvin                                          Australia                                  2008

John Winning                                      Australia                                  2000

The recently crowned NSW and former Giltinan champion Michael Coxon is the early favourite to win back the crown he previously held in 2006 and 2007.

Coxon is joined by last year’s winning Giltinan champion crewmen Aaron Links and Trent Barnabas in the Thurlow Fisher Lawyers-sponsored skiff he campaigned in 2008.

Aside from the past Giltinan champions, there are eight skippers in the regatta who have won world championships in other sailing classes.

These include:

Rob Greenhalgh                      …..                   International 14 Class

Howie Hamlin                         …..                   5o5

John Harris                              …..                   International Moths

Mark Kennedy                         …..                   29ers

Archie Massey                        …..                   International 14 Class

Evan Walker                            …..                   Open Multihull / Youth

Jason Waterhouse                   …..                   Hobie 16 / Youth

John Winning Jr.                      …..                   29ers

There are six previous (and current) Interdominion 12ft Skiff champions:

Phil Airey,  Andrew Cuddihy,  Nick Press (current),  Chris Skinner,  Alex Vallings,  John Winning

Adding to the extremely high level of talent in the fleet is Sweden’s Anders Lewander, skipper of ‘Ericsson 3’ in the Volvo Round-the-World race, who is returning to the 18s after previous campaigns in the 1990s.

Giltinan Championship Race Dates are:

Friday                                                  12 February                                         Invitation Race

Saturday                                              13 February                                         Race 1

Sunday                                                 14 February                                         Race 2

Tuesday                                               16 February                                         Race 3

Wednesday                                         17 February                                         Race 4

Thursday                                             18 February                                         Race 5

Saturday                                              20 February                                         Race 6

Sunday                                                 21 February                                         Race 7

All races will start at 3:00pm (with the exception of Races 1 and 6, which will start at 4:00pm).

Spectator ferries follow all races, leaving Double Bay Public Wharf (alongside the Australian 18 Footers League clubhouse) 30 minutes before each race.