Boy wonder

Rob Greenhalgh looks back at RMW Marine's performance at Carnac

As if to make amends for losing the JJ Giltinan Trophy earlier this year, Rob Greenhalgh and his crew on RMW Marine swept the floor with the competition at the 18ft skiff regatta at Carnac over the weekend. This was an impressive display since it was the first time that Greenhalgh and his team had been out on their skiff since the JJ Giltinan down in Sydney Harbour in January.

In Carnac the boys got off to a cracking start. "The first day was windy and everyone went out on big rigs and got blown away," recounted Greenhalgh. "Only four boats finished. We won by eight minutes and were the only boat not to capsize.

"The next day was lighter, with three races. We got seventh in the first, which was light and shite, and we got the wrong side of the shift on the first beat. Then we won the next two races which were all quite tight. That meant we won the day which was fine."

Friday's racing looked like it was going to be breezy but in the end turned out not to be.
"Everyone put their little rigs on and got out there and the wind dropped a bit," said Greenhalgh. "So it was probably a big rig day, but we were happy because our little rig is quite big. So we ended up getting two seconds and a fourth. Some people with big rigs beat us. So we won the day there so on the last day we just had to get one top six results to win with a race to spare and that was if the next boat had two first."

Of their form Greenhalgh commented: "We were just sailing well. Generally we could come through the fleet. There were a couple of races were we were fourth or fifth and the windward mark and came through to first, picking them off one by one. We had one bad race. In that we down to 15th at one stage and crawled back slowly. The first day was a big confident boost for us and won by miles. And we were going quick then."

Aside from RMW Marine, World Champion American Howie Hamlin was going well as were Australians Trevor Barnabas and John Winning and the Swiss team led by Stephan Reuger. "It would be easy to come outside the top 10," commented Greenhalgh.

The regatta proved that aside from RMW Marine, the Brit sailors have still got some way to go before they can nobble Hamlin and the Aussies.

The size of the fleet at 25 was impressive - almost up to the 28 taking part in the JJ Giltinan Trophy in Australia.

The good news for any skiff fans is the party is moving to Weymouth at the end of this week, where 23 boats are expected. Crew changes will include 49er sailor Alaistair Richardson who will be sailing White Stuff, while Ed Smyth will be on board Trevor Barnabas' Omega Smeg. Meanwhile 49er sailor and TheDailySail correspondent Andy Rice will be aboard the Penfold's Link Associates.