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Friday, 13 February 2009
Sydney HarbourÂ
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The traditional Invitation Race in the JJ Giltinan Championship was sailed on Sydney Harbour today as a warm up for the championship-proper which begins tomorrow (Saturday, 14 February). Â
The race began in an 18knot South East wind but this dropped to below 10knots midway through the course.Â
Defending champion Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton and Tom Clout) showed the rest of the fleet that they will be the team to beat when they finished a clear 1m6s winner today from Project Racing, skippered by Andy Budgen of the UK.
 Third placing went to Yandoo, skippered by 2000 Giltinan champion John Winning, which finished a further 46s back.
Gotta Love It 7 and Yandoo were the early pacesetters on the spinnaker run from Rose Bay to Robertson Point as they led a charging bunch of skiffs.
The experience of the Yandoo crew saw them grab a 10s lead at Clarke Island on the following windward leg. Â
Project Racing moved into third place at this point, followed by Kinder Caring Home Nursing (Brett Van Munster), DeLonghi (Simon Nearn), Smeg (Hugh Stodart) and others.All teams elected to 2-sail reach to the Chowder Bay buoy where Yandoo retained her lead but Gotta Love It 7 was soon back at the front as they worked into Rose Bay in a fading breeze.
Once in front, Gotta Love It 7 was not headed again aas she went on to an easy win.
 Yandoo looked set for second placing but was run down by Project Racing over the final leg of the course.
Two of the other leading contenders in the championship, Rag & Famish Hotel (John Harris) and Southern Cross Constructions (Euan Mc Nicol) both recovered well from ‘ordinary' starts but were never in a position to challenge the winner.
Hopefully, conditions will be more consistent for tomorrow's opening race of the championship.
The Australian 18 Footers League will have its regular spectator ferry following each race of the championship and will have two ferries on each Sunday 15th and 22nd) as well as Saturday, 21st February. Â
Departure times are 2.30pm on each day with the exception of 14th and 21st February when ferries will depart at 3.30pm.Â
 Frank Quealey
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Australian 18 Footers LeagueÂ
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