The 2005 Giltinan Championship winning team of Euan Mc Nicol, Seve Jarvin and Tim Austin were at their best when they led all the way to win Heat 1 of the Club Championship on Sydney Harbour yesterday.

Sailing their brand-new Club Marine Skiff for only the third time the talented young team grabbed the lead on the first windward leg and were never headed before recording a 25 seconds win.

John Harris’ Rag & Famish Hotel was never more than 35 seconds behind Club Marine for the entire course but was unable to take the lead at any time.

Asko Appliances (Hugh Stodart) was a further 5 seconds behind Rag & Famish in third place, followed by defending champion Daniel Phillips in Omega Smeg.

The race was almost certainly won on the first leg when Club Marine and Rag & Famish elected to work the left hand side of the course while most of the fleet went to the right.

When they reached the Beashel Buoy (first mark) Club Marine led Rag & Famish by 15 seconds. The next skiff (Omega Smeg) was a further 1 minute, 15 seconds further back.

Positions at the head of the fleet changed little throughout the race which was sailed in a mainly 10k north-east breeze.

This freshened to 15-16k on the final lap of the course and produced a gripping three-way battle.

The Club Marine crew were under enormous pressure from both Rag & Famish and Asko Appliances on the final windward leg but were more than a match to take the honours.

Australian champion Casio Seapathfinder (Michael Coxon) never recovered from a disappointing first lap and finished a distant 6th after starting as the pre race favourite.

Results

1 Club Marine

2 Rag & Famish Hotel

3 Asko Appliances

4 Omega Smeg

5 AAPT

6 Casio Seapathfinder

7 CWL

8 Ssangyong Yandoo

9 Appliances Online

10 Active Air

11 CST Composites

12 Maytag

13 Noakes Youth

14 Panasonic

15 De Longhi

16 Belle Property

17 Southern Cross Constructions

18 Wentworth Courier

19 SX Projects

20 Fisher & Paykel

21 Rosemount

22 Aristocrat