Final pre-Giltanan moments

Rag & Famish Hotel wins National Australia Bank Twilight 18ft Skiff Race

John Harris, Scott Babbage and Mark Kennedy (substituting for regular crewman Peter Harris) proved the masters of a 15-knot northeasterly wind on Sydney Harbour today when they took out the National Australia Bank Twilight 18ft Skiff Race in Rag & Famish Hotel.

Rag & Famish Hotel and Australian champion Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin) staged a match race for the first half of the course before the 7 crew capsized shortly after rounding the second windward buoy.

The Rag then had to withstand a downwind challenge from the British Project Racing team (Andy Budgen) before going on to a convincing 1m57s victory.

The consistent Active Air-2UE (Matthew Searle) finished in second place 42s ahead of Southern Cross Constructions, skippered by Euan Mc Nicol.

Andrew Cuddihy’s Fisher & Paykel continues to show improved form and finished a solid fourth.

There was an extremely close battle for fifth place with De’Longhi (Simon Nearn) taking the placing ahead of Thurlow Fisher (Bruce Savage), Gotta Love It 7, Yandoo (John Winning) and Macquarie Real Estate (Micah Lane).

Sunday’s Club Championship will be the final hit out for all competitors before the JJ Giltinan (world) Championship begins next Friday with the Australian 18 Footers League conducting the traditional Invitation Race.

Visiting teams from USA, Canada and New Zealand are expected to sail by invitation on Sunday.