Fifth winner

Close finish in store at the 18ft skiff's Ssangyong JJ Giltinan Trophy in Sydney

Asko Appliances became the fifth winner from as many heats when Hugh Stodart and his team took out Heat 5 of the Ssangyong JJ Giltinan International Championship on Sydney Harbour today.

A northeasterly in the morning looked to promise strong winds which never materialised giving another 7-10 knot tactical race day for all.

The start saw Yandoo, RMW Marine and the Swiss team getting good starts on one side of the line and heading inshore to Bradley’s Point whereas some others including Asko and Club Marine stayed out a bit further and gained from extra breeze. RMW Marie suffered from Yandoo’s dirty wind and struggled in the lighter breeze inshore which normally pays in this wind direction.

The top windward mark saw the order as Asko, Rag & Famish, Club Marine, Computer Associates, AAPT and Yandoo. Brits Pete Barton and Team Barron Smithers Henri rounded well in 8th position and ended the day in 13th - so a great day for them. RMW Marine rounded in about 20th position, some two minutes behind and had a lot of catching up to do.

The downwind leg round Shark Island saw the fleet settle down to a fairly processional course with a few exceptions climbing through. RMW Marine and Omega Smeg pulled through to around 10th position by the leeward leg.

The second upwind leg saw a few more pushing out to the right to gain better wind and the lead was held comfortably by Asko who covered carefully and went on to sail a superb race. Skippered by Hugh Stodart with crew of Paul Schulz and Niall Kinch, Asko Appliances led at every rounding mark to take victory by 13secs.

Asko had to withstand a brilliant finish from Club Marine (Euan McNicol) while the consistent Computer Associates of Anthony Young and his team was a further 29secs back in third place. Yandoo finished in 5th position behind AAPT while RMW managed to claw back to sixth place.

With just two heats remaining in the championship Asko now heads the pointscore on 20.0 points, closely followed by Rag & Famish Hotel (John Harris) on 22.0, Club Marine 24.0 and defending champions RMW Marine (Rob Greenhalgh) on 25.0.

After discarding their worst performance to date Asko still leads on 10.0 points, from Club Marine on 11.0, Rag & Famish 14.0, Computer Associates 16.0 and RMW 17.0.

This has to be one of the closest Giltinan contests ever staged and picking the series winner is still extremely difficult.

Friday is a lay day and the final two races take place on Saturday and Sunday which promise to be exciting with only 6 points between 1st and 5th place after one discard is taken out.

Today’s top 6 results:
1. Asko
2. Club Marine
3. Computer Associates
4. AAPT
5. Ssangyang Yandoo
6. RMW Marine

Top 5 results overall after one discard taten out and 5 races sailed:
1. Asko – 10 points
2. Club Marine -11 points
3. Rag & Famish – 14 points
4. Computer Associates – 16 points
5. RMW Marine – 17 points

More pics on page 2...