The Shaw & Partners Financial Services 18ft skiff team of Jim Colley, Tom Quigley and Charlie Wyatt were sailing together for the first time but showed their class to come from behind and grab a narrow win in last Sunday’s Race 1 of the Spring Championship on Sydney Harbour.
Jim Colley previously skippered an 18 for Shaw & Partners when he contested the 2020-21 season with Shaun Connor and Harry Bethwaite and led the team to finish third in the 2021 JJ Giltinan World Championship behind Michael Coxon’s Smeg and John Winning Jr’s Yandoo Winning Group.
Colley returned to the 49ers last season as part of his long-term plan in that class but took the opportunity to have another season in the 18s in 2022-23.
Bowman Tom Quigley, the son of 1996 JJ Giltinan World champion Stephen Quigley, sailed five full seasons in the 18s, before missing most of the 2021-22 season due to studies, and the third member of last Sunday’s team, sheet hand Charlie Wyatt, was an invaluable asset because of his knowledge of the former Tech2 skiff.
After trailing John Winning’s Yandoo and Marcus Ashley-Jones’ Lazarus for most of the Easterly course, Shaw & Partners took advantage of the 3-buoys handicapping system to grab the lead at the final top mark and defeat Lazarus by just 7s from Lazarus.
Colley was full of praise for Charlie Wyatt, who was a member of Jack Macartney’s twice Australian champion Tech2 team over the past three seasons. “The boat was already well put together and it was a bonus for us to have Charlie on board to talk us through the set up.”
“My first season in 2020-21 was a learning process but it gave me valuable experience.” “It’s great being able to sail again with the support of Shaw & Partners and I’m thankful to the Australian 18 Footers League for giving me the opportunity in such a good boat.”
The handicapping system being used in the Spring Championship is designed to provide close racing and give every boat in the fleet a good chance to win the race each Sunday.
As well as the 3-buoys handicap system applying throughout the race, the winner and next two placegetters are penalised for the following week’s race.
Next Sunday, Jim Colley and his Shaw & Partners team will be sailing from the back mark and giving starts of up to 10 minutes to some of the 19-boat fleet at the League.
Each race of the Spring Championship is contested for an individual trophy. This week, it is one of the most important trophies at the League, the Alf Beashel Memorial Trophy, in recognition of the man who is responsible for so much positive contribution towards the future of the club, its efforts to promote international competition and the site where the present clubhouse stands, alongside the Double Bay Public Wharf on Sydney Harbour.
The race sponsor is The Kitchen Maker.
The 7-race Spring Championship has a cumulative, NO DROP point score system, with the 2022-23 champion not being determined until after Race 7 on Sunday, November 20.
Spectators can follow the action on board the club’s spectator ferry, as they have done for the past 87 years, which leaves Double Bay Wharf alongside the clubhouse at 2pm.
Booking online through the club’s website www.18footers.com is essential, http://18footers.
For anyone who can’t make it out onto the water, the League’s live broadcast team will be out on Sydney Harbour to capture all the action. Live streaming is available at www.18footers.com
For all the club’s racing and up-to-date news:
Club Website www.18footers.com
Twitter @18skiff
Instagram @18skiff
Facebook International 18ft Skiff
For anyone who wants to take a look at Sail Media’s action videos from the 2021-22 season, including the 2022 JJ Giltinan Championship, go to www.18footers.com and click on the ’18 Footers TV’ link.