Post JJ-upheaval

Crew changes across the fleet see Kinder Caring take honours in latest round of Australian 18 Footers League racing

Following the intensive campaign of the JJ Giltinan Championship last week, there were many skipper and crew changes for Race 14 of the Australian 18 Footers League Club Championship on Sydney Harbour today.

These changes, along with a totally unpredictable light SSEerly wind, produced a tough race and one where many positional changes occurred throughout.

In the end, Kinder Caring Home Nursing, skippered by Brett Van Munster, took line honours by 1 min 27 secs from Fiat, skippered today by regular sheet hand Aaron Links. Omega Smeg, also skippered by a replacement - Jim Kerrison, was a further 1 min 20 secs back in third place.

Today’s win was Van Munster’s first across-the-line victory since joining the 18s with a rookie crew last season, and a turnaround from last Sunday’s final race of the Giltinan when Fiat had a 1 sec win over Kinder Caring. Fiat had led for the entire course but Links was denied a win at his first attempt of skippering an 18ft skiff when Fiat capsized as she approached the final rounding mark. Kinder Caring, which had chased Fiat throughout the race, pounced on the lead and held on easily over the final leg of the course for a comfortable win.

Giltinan champion and club championship points leader Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin) was on the wrong side of many wind shifts and finished in ninth place - more than seven minutes from the winner.

With just one more race to be sailed in the championship, to be held on Sunday, 16 March, and no discards applying for the series, Gotta Love It 7 has a total of 57 points lost, ahead of Fiat on 64 points, Rag & Famish Hotel (John Harris) 67, Ssangyong Yandoo (John Winning) 89, Omega Smeg 95 and Asko Appliances (Hugh Stodart) on 97 points.

Gotta Love It 7 won the start today at the pin end of the line but Fiat held a 30 secs lead over 7 at the windward mark after sailing to the RHS of the course and to the west of Shark Island.

Fisher & Paykel (Andrew Cuddihy) and Kinder Caring were together, followed by Omega Smeg and Panasonic (Jonathan Whitty), which had followed Fiat to the RHS.

A tight spinnaker run from Rose Bay to Robertson Point provided spectators with an exciting spectacle. Fiat extended her lead to 45 secs over Gotta Love It 7 , but the margin was down to just 15 secs at Clarke Island.

The next spinnaker run from Clarke Island to Chowder Bay produced plenty of problems for all teams as they battled wind shifts and holes in the wind. Fiat almost capsized twice but maintained her lead. Kinder Caring outsailed the rest and moved into second place ahead of Gotta Love It 7, Fisher & Paykel, Asko Appliances, Rag & Famish and Omega Smeg. The two leaders dominated the fleet over the Rose Bay-Taylor Bay-Rose Bay 'loop' with Fiat holding a 10 secs margin as they began the spinnaker run.

Fiat looked to have the race in her keeping before the capsize, but it was a rewarding win for the Kinder Caring crew who have made dramatic progress since their 18ft Skiff debut at the beginning of the 2006-2007 season.

Results: