The New Zealand 18-Footer 'Honda Marine'-Team of David McDiarmid defended the JJ Giltinan title during the past week with an evident superiority. Also the other Kiwi teams performed extremely well winning 8 of the 9 races of the Championship. An extensive analysis of sail-world.com reveals the differences to the Aussies and gives interesting insights on the fineness of 18-Footer skiff sailing.

Finishing 2nd this morning UTC, David McDiarmid/Matthew Steven/Brad Collins NZL on 'Honda Marine' secured the overall 18-Footer JJ Giltinan Championship title prematurely before tomorrow's final race, repeating their last year win. Winner of the day was again 'ASCC' with Josh Porebski NZL in a good position to fight for the Silver or Bronze tomorrow with the five teams ranked within 5 points.
The full-length video replay of today's race. The updated ranking list and the daily news will follow soon on the event website.

Today's two races at the JJ Giltinan Trophy were sailed in a light 8 to 10kn breeze. 'Asko' with James Dorron won the first race ahead of 'ASCC' with the young 49er-sailor Josh Porebski NZL steering. The overall leader 'Honda Marine' with David McDiarmid NZL defended her lead with a 6th place. The second race was still underway at press deadline this morning. Heinrich Bayern GER with his 'Marinepool' - 19th overall up-to-now - was in the lead at the first upwind mark. Today's races can be replayed (see above) on this website.
The ranking list and the news of yesterday.
The updated results will be posted on the event website during the day.

The forecast for today UTC was an 18-20kn wind on Sydney Harbour prompting the 24 teams to raise the smaller rig. But the rainy day brought only a light and shifty breeze. In the only race of the day - two were on the program - a 180° shift made racing even more complicated. This was no major problem for the overall leading teams, and 'Honda Marine' with David Mcdiarmid NZL was again the dominating winner ahead of 'Smeg' with Michael Coxon AUS and 'Asko' with James Dorron AUS.
The ranking list (without today's results), the news of yesterday and the video of the day

Two races were sailed in fresh winds around 16kn this morning UTC at the JJ Giltinan Trophy on Sydney Harbour with 'C-Tech' (Alex Vallings NZL) and 'Smeg' (Michael Coxon AUS) finishing first. 'Honda Marine' with David Mcdiarmid NZL, leader after the first two heats, remained on top with the day ranks 2 and 6. Only the ranking list after 2 races was available at press deadline. The updates and the daily news will be posted during the day on the event website.

Lay day in Sydney today at the inofficial 18-Footer-Worlds. The two races completed so far were won by the defending champion 'Honda Marine' with David McDiarmid NZL. Yesterday's win however was lucky as the leading 'Winning Group' was forced to abandon the race after a collision with a spectator boat ripping the spinaker. Protest hearing from race one have not all been concluded and there is no cumulative ranking list availble now.
The news of race 2.

The second race of the JJ Giltinan was held this morning UTC on Sydney Harbour in a 12-14kn wind. Here the full-length video replay. It was again 'Honda Marine' with David McDiarmid NZL, who - after a conservative start - outpaced the entire fleet finishing just two boat length ahead of the second. The results on the event website will be available later this morning.
Here the report of yesterday. Tomorrow is lay day in Sydney. The third race will be sailed on Tuesday ... as always available livestream on this www.sailing-news.com website as from 3 a.m. UTC.

The JJ Giltinan Trophy 2019, the inofficial 18-Footer World Championship, began on Sydney Harbour this morning UTC in a moderate 12kn breeze. Clear winner of the first race was the defending champion 'Honda Marine' of David McDiarmid NZL with 2 minutes' advantage on 'Asko Appliances' of James Dorron AUS. The results and the report will be posted soon on the event website. The livestream is available in a full replay (2 hrs 15 min).