 Monday, 15 December 2008Â
Sydney HarbourÂ
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The Rag & Famish Hotel team of John Harris, Peter Harris and Scott Babbage became the 2008-2009 NSW champions in unusual circumstances on Sydney Harbour yesterday.Â
Originally, the regatta was due to conclude on the previous Sunday (7 December) but Race 3 of the championship had to be re-sailed yesterday after strong winds forced its postponement three weeks ago.Â
The re-sail was due to decide the new champions between Harris' Rag & Famish Hotel and Seve Jarvin's defending champion Gotta Love It 7.Â
All competitors left the shore but once again strong winds prevented the race from being sailed.
 Officials decided late yesterday to abandon the race and reduce the five-race regatta to four races - with the best three to count.Â
Rag & Famish had a win, second and an average points in Race 2 for a total of 4.7 points with Gotta Love It 7 in second place overall with a win, a third and fourth placing for a total of 8 points.
Yandoo (John Winning) finished third on 9 points (on a countback), ahead of Southern Cross Constructions (Euan Mc Nicol) also on 9 points.Â
Pure Blonde (James Francis) was fifth on 14 points and Active Air-2UE (Matthew Searle) sixth.Â
The win caps a great 2008 for John Harris who also won the International Moth World Championship at Weymouth, UK in July.Â
The fleet will now have a racing break until 11 January when the Australian 18 Footers League will conduct Race 1 of the Australian Championship.
 That regatta will be the final hitout before the world's premier event, the JJ Giltian Championship, which commences on Sydney Harbour on 13 February.
 The 2009 Giltinan Championship will have an international fleet from USA, UK and New Zealand as well as NSW, Western Australian and possibly Queensland teams representing Australia.Â
Frank QuealeyÂ
Australian 18 Footers League
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