JJ Giltinan preview

Khan junior joins in this weekend's 18ft skiff world championship in Sydney

Joining a line-up of at present 28 boats competing in the Ssangyong JJ Giltanan World Trophy Championship is remarkable 15 year old American sailor Samuel 'Shark' Khan. Khan will become the youngest person ever to skipper an 18ft skiff when he lines up on Saturday in the first heat on Sydney Harbour.

'Shark' will skipper Pegasus Racing against the world's best skiff sailors. Although new to the flying 18 footer machines, he has a great sailing record already and will add a new dimension to the class.

'Shark' says he learned how to sail on a Hawaiian outrigger canoe, and besides sailing does a lot of snowboarding and windsurfing as well as playing a lot of hockey.He is the youngest person ever to do a Transpac (Los Angeles to Honolulu), winning in both 2001 and 2003 and in 2003 was the Melges 24 World Championship.

The line-up for Saturday includes the defending champions on RMW Marine led by Rob Greenhalgh, 2002 and 2003 champion Howie Hamlin and the present Australian champion Michael Coxon. Anthony Young and class mentor John Winning who finished second and third in last year's JJ are also taking part.

Aside from the RMW troupe there are three other teams from the UK led by Steve McLean, Tim Penfold and Peter Barron (see Peter's site here).

A notable exception from the line-up is Trevor Barnadas who retired from the 18ft skiff circuit after last year's JJ Giltanan.

Race dates are:
Heat 1 - Saturday, 19 February
Heat 2 - Sunday, 20 February
Heat 3 - Tuesday, 22 February
Heat 4 - Wednesday, 23 February
Heat 5 - Thursday, 24 February
Heat 6 - Saturday, 26 February
Heat 7 - Sunday, 27 February

The line-up

Casio Seapathfinder Michael Coxon Australia
Omega Smeg Daniel Phillips
AAPT Sean Langman
Asko Appliances Hugh Stodart
Club Marine Euan McNicol
Ssangyong Yandoo John Winning
Computer Associates Anthony Young
Maytag Tony Hannan
Rag & Famish Hotel John Harris
Fisher & Paykel Andrew Cuddihy
Panasonic John Winning Jr.
Belle Property Micah Lane
Team Morrison Peter Morrison
SX Projects Matt Felton
CST Composites Chris Dixon
Adtec Communications Jeremy Sharp
Churchills Sports Bar John Sweeny
GP Covers Flemming Clausen Denmark
Rosemount Chris Skinner New Zealand
Team USA Chad Freittas USA
West Marine Howie Hamlin USA
RMW Marine Rob Greenhalgh UK
Team Mc Lean Steve Mc Lean UK
Team Swiss Chris Rast Switzerland
Fat Face Tim Penfold UK
Pegasus Racing Shark Khan USA
CT Sail Battens Phil Airey New Zealand
Barron & Smithers-Henri Lloyd Peter Barton UK