19 boat line-up

Gotta Love It 7 leads the field into the start of the Australian 18ft Skiff Championship

Defending champion Seve Jarvin and his Gotta Love It 7 team go into Sunday’s first race of the Australian 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour as favourite to retain the title, but it won’t be easy against a strong 19-boat fleet.

Following a late start to the season, the Gotta Love It 7 team has built up steadily with a string of good performances before the three weeks break over the Christmas-New Year period.

Jarvin, Scott Babbage and Sam Newton, who returns to the team after success in the 34th America's Cup with Oracle Team USA, will be put to the test by a number of strong teams with plenty of experience.

Two stars of the 1990s, Chris Nicholson (Mojo Wine) and David Witt (Sydney City Marine), along with Michael Coxon (Thurlow Fisher Lawyers), Jack Macartney (Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel) and Nick Press (Smeg) pose the greatest threat to Team Seven.

The championship will be sailed over five races (on five consecutive Sundays) from 12 January-9 February, and is the main lead up to the JJ Giltinan Championship, which begins on Sydney Harbour on 1 March.

Hopefully, the poor racing conditions experienced during the first half of the season have gone and the fleet can get down to good sailing in the traditional summer northeast winds.

Team line-up