RMW up to speed

Greenhalgh and his team win the JJ Giltinan practise race reports Leslie Ryan

Well Sydney Harbour doesn’t get much better than this - clear blue skies, full sunshine, northeasterly breeze starting in the morning at 12-15 knots, building to 20 knots in time for a 3pm start for the JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff practise race.

With most of the 28 boats entered in the JJ making the start line, there was full action from the outset. Maytag (Tony Hannon) had a great start followed closely by the RMW Marine team and they were off. The wind was increasing steadily and they had a three lap course round Shark Island on the first and third laps. The first beat was tight with around 10 boats closely contesting the front. RMW Marine sailed by Robert and Peter Greenhalgh and Dan Johnson popped out in front and looked to have excellent boat speed and took the lead at the first windward mark, leading thereafter to win the race comfortably.

They were followed closely by Howie Hamlin from the USA in Team Pegasus and the two of them roared down towards Shark Island. Behind them followed local Australian teams of SX Projects, Rag and Famish, Casio and Ssanyong Yandoo. Howie’s team had some problems with the kite tack line round the back of the Island and dropped back leaving RMW a clear way at the front to stretch out their lead.

The next round and final upwind leg saw the RMW boys built a really impressive lead of nearly three quarters of a leg while second place was battled out between SX Projects, Rag and Famish, Yandoo, AAPT, Maytag and Asko. There were only around 13-14 finishers after the wind increased to a gusty and bumpy 25 knots.

Team Fat Face (Penfolds and Matt Alvarado) suffered some damage just after the start and had to retire while Team Henri Lloyd (Pete Barton) were looking strong in the top ten only to capsize and lose valuable places.

The first race starts tomorrow, Saturday 20 Feb at 4pm.