From the Euro 18s.........
The 18 Foot Skiff International Association is delighted to announce a new global competition, the Mark Foy Trophy, to be sailed for the first time in Carnac (France) between June 29th and July 04th 2009. Mark Foy was one of the founders of the 18ft Skiff Class in Sydney in 1892 and a uniquely designed trophy bearing his name was recently rediscovered in the clubhouse of the Sydney Flying Squadron. Newly renovated and kindly donated by the Foy family, this valuable trophy will now take its rightful place as an International 18ft Skiff trophy. As a sign of the importance of the class outside Australia, and to show particular support for the class in Europe, the first venue to hold a series of races for this Trophy will be Carnac in France, often cited as the birthplace of European 18ft Skiff racing. A huge turnout of 18ft Skiffs is expected, with over 30 boats representing Australia, New Zealand, the USA and many European countries,with previous JJ Giltinan winners and champions from other classes competing over 6 days in a gala event hosted by Yacht Club de Carnac
John Harris, Commodore of the Australian 18 Footer League, comments, "Our International class organisation is mandated to foster the growth of the class building on its success Internationally, and promoting the regattas held annually in Australia, Europe and the USA. The JJ Giltinan Trophy has been raced as a "world championship" on Sydney Harbour since 1935, and the Mark Foy Trophy is both a reflection of the popularity of 18 Footer Sailing Internationally and a fitting celebration for the class as it looks to continue its growth on all continents. The JJ Giltinan event will continue to be run in Sydney every year and maintain its iconic status as one of the ultimate sailing trophies to be won in the world today".
In 2010, the Mark Foy Trophy will return to its birthplace in Sydney, Australia and will be run alongside the JJ Giltinan Trophy to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the world's most exciting skiff class. San Francisco in 2011 and Auckland in 2012 are then scheduled hosts for the Mark Foy Trophy.
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With only a few days till the first race of the Mark Foy in Carnac, thought this would be a good topic, as not much skiff sailing happenening in cold and windless Sydney
I have some great mates from Hungary and Germany competing in the week long event and hopefully they will send thru some interesting pics and reports
And with a large Aussie fleet in France for the innaugural event its sure to be tightly contested... Skiff legend Trev Barnabas has a put together an awesome team of his son Trent and former 49er world champ Dan Phillips and will sail Simon Nelsons 24/7 and Howie has the Maquarie, so these two will be very much at the pointy end of the fleet, along with the other skiff legend Jon Woody Winning who has been showing some good speed in Sydney since the JJ
With over 30 skiffs expecting to start race 1 on sunday its sure to be a very open regatta, with ex JJ winner Rob Greenhalgh in his new skiff Holt and plenty of other quick UK and Euro skiffs, will the aussies have it all there own way
Last years Carnac winner Rollo on the Slam will go well with plenty of experience on board as will my good mates the Hungarian team on Liberty who have got there new square top rig going fast after lots of winter training
My picks for top 5 would have to be
Trev B... 24/7
Rob G... Holt
Rollo... Slam
Woody... Yandoo
Woody Jnr... Appliances on line
The Danish team on GP Covers will go well if its fresh as will my German mates on their newly purchased skiff from the League... both these teams have some serious weight on the wire of around 280kgs!!!! And the Hun guys should be up there in the top 10 as well
The UK guys on Team Pindar and Investec should be very quick with plenty of recent close racing over the past few months
Best of luck to all teams and I hope to have some pics and reports in the next few days
Link to Carnac YC website... http://www.yccarnac.com/
