Tuesday 9 February 2010

Aussie 18 Foot Skiffs: "Family Feuds" at the Giltinan


Scott Kennedy sails Yamaha. Image copyright Frank Quealey.


Mark Kennedy sails Coldwell Banker New Homes. Image copyright Frank Quealey.

by Frank Quealey

Brothers Mark and Scott Kennedy will be competing against each other in the Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship, which begins on Sydney Harbour later this week.

While it’s not unusual that this happens in sport, why it is unusual with the Kennedy boys is because they will be representing two different countries. Mark will be representing Australia and Scott will represent New Zealand.

Mark won the 2000 world 29er Championship and has moved to Australia. He now sails with the Australian 18 Footers League fleet as skipper of Coldwell Banker New Homes.

Scott has remained in New Zealand and is the current Auckland 18 Footer champion – the title he won late last year as skipper of Yamaha.

While winning the overall Giltinan Championship is the main goal for both skippers, there is no doubt that for each one beating his brother will be a very close second option.

As well as the Kennedy brothers competing against each other, there are three fathers who will be competing against their sons.


Trevor Barnabas sails Fisher and Paykel. Image copyright Frank Quealey.


Trent Barnabas sails Thurlow Fisher Lawyers. Image copyright Frank Quealey.

John Winning (Yandoo) and John Winning Jr. (Appliancesonline.com.au), Trevor Barnabas (Fisher & Paykel) and Trent Barnabas (Thurlow Fisher Lawyers) and Graham Catley (Maersk Line) and Nick Catley (Yamaha) will also go head-to-head.


John Winning (junior) sails AppliancesOnline. Image copyright Frank Quealey.


John Winning (senior) is on Yandoo. Image copyright Frank Quealey.

With so much competition between these families, one team which has two brothers competing together is the highly fancied Rag & Famish Hotel, which is skippered by 2001 Giltinan champion John Harris and has Peter Harris in the bow.


The Harris brothers sail on Rag & Famish. Image copyright Frank Quealey.

The 31-boat fleet has an Invitation Race on Friday with the first race of a seven race regatta to be sailed on Saturday.

Aussie 18 Footers League

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