Just four weeks to go until the 2014 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship
by Frank Quealey 31 Jan 2014 20:39 NZDT
1-9 March 2014
There are now just four weeks to the 2014 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship, which celebrates the 75 years history of the world's greatest 18 Footer event, since the first regatta on Sydney Harbour in 1938.
The historical significance has not been lost on organizers, who are anxious to include as many past winners as possible at the 2014 series from 1-9 March.
Over the next four weeks we will not only preview the 2014 regatta, but also take a look at some of the people and history contributing to the success of this great championship.
World famous designers such as Ben Lexcen, Bruce Farr, Iain Murray and Julian Bethwaite have all been successful as winners of the Giltinan Championship while the list of competitors covers every level of world success in numerous classes.
Giltinan Championship Past Winners:
1938 Taree, Bert Swinbourne (Aust)
1939 Manu, Geo. Chamberlain (NZ)
1948 Crows Nest, Bill Hayward (Aust)
1949 Marjorie Too, Tony Russell (Aust)
1950 Komutu, Jack Logan (NZ)
1951 Myra Too, Bill Barnett (Aust)
1952 Intrigue, Peter Mander (NZ)
1954 Intrigue, Peter Mander (NZ)
1956 Jenny VI, Norm Wright (Aust)
1958 Jantzen Girl, Len Heffernan (Aust)
1960 Surprise, Bern Skinner (NZ)
1961 Venom, Ben Lexcen (Aust)
1963 Schemer, Ken Beashel (Aust)
1964 Toogara, Cliff Monkhouse (Aust)
1965 Travelodge, Bob Holmes (Aust)
1966 Travelodge, Bob Holmes (Aust)
1967 Associated Motor Club, Don Barnett (Aust)
1968 Daily Telegraph, Ken Beashel (Aust)
1969 Travelodge, Bob Holmes (Aust)
1970 Thomas Cameron, Hugh Treharne (Aust)
1971 Travelodge, Bob Holmes (Aust)
1972 Smirnoff, Don Lidgard (NZ)
1973 Travelodge, Bob Holmes (Aust)
1974 Travelodge New Zealand, Terry Mc Dell (NZ)
1975 KB, Dave Porter (Aust)
1976 Miles Furniture, Stephen Kulmar (Aust)
1977 Color 7, Iain Murray (Aust)
1978 Color 7, Iain Murray (Aust)
1979 Color 7, Iain Murray (Aust)
1980 Color 7, Iain Murray (Aust)
1981 Color 7, Iain Murray (Aust)
1982 Color 7, Iain Murray (Aust)
1983 Tia Maria, Peter Sorensen (Aust)
1984 Tia Maria, Peter Sorensen (Aust)
1985 Bradmill, Robert Brown (Aust)
1986 Entrad, Robert Brown (Aust)
1987 Chesty Bond, Trevor Barnabas (Aust)
1988 **Chesty Bond, Trevor Barnabas (Aust)
**Southern Cross, Robert Brown (Aust)
1989 Prudential, Michael Walsh (Aust)
1990 Bank of New Zealand, Scott Ramsden (Aust)
1991 AAMI, Julian Bethwaite (Aust)
1992 AAMI, Julian Bethwaite (Aust)
1993 Winfield Racing, Michael Spies (Aust)
1994 Nokia, Neil Cashman (Aust)
1995 Winfield Racing, Michael Spies (Aust)
1996 AEI-Pace Express, Stephen Quigley (Aust)
1997 Omega Smeg-2UE, Trevor Barnabas (Aust)
1997 Smeg, Trevor Barnabas (Aust)
1998 Omega Smeg-2UE, Trevor Barnabas (Aust)
1999 Rockport, Tim Robinson (UK)
2000 AMP Centrepoint, John Winning (Aust)
2001 Rag & Famish, Hotel John Harris (Aust)
2002 GE-US Challenge, Howie Hamlin (USA)
2003 GE-US Challenge, Howie Hamlin (USA)
2004 RMW Marine, Rob Greenhalgh (UK)
2005 Club Marine, Euan Mc Nicol (Aust)
2006 Casio Seapathfinder, Michael Coxon (Aust)
2007 Fiat, Michael Coxon (Aust)
2008 Gotta Love It 7, Seve Jarvin (Aust)
2009 Southern Cross Constructions, Euan Mc Nicol (Aust)
2010 Gotta Love It 7, Seve Jarvin (Aust)
2011 Gotta Love It 7, Seve Jarvin (Aust)
2012 Gotta Love It 7, Seve Jarvin (Aust)
2013 Gotta Love It 7, Seve Jarvin (Aust)
** Denotes Joint Champions
The Australian 18 Footers League are expecting large crowds, particularly on the two Sundays, and have arranged for additional spectator ferries if necessary.
Live video streaming, GPS tracking and social media, as well as the support we get from the sailing media/websites around the world will make the event highly visible to all who want to keep up to date throughout the entire championship.