The 2017 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship did not disappoint! With seven official races over ten days, 26 teams participated in action packed racing on Sydney Harbor amidst spectators cheering from harbor ferries. Team Thurlow Fisher Lawyers of Michael Coxon, Dave O’Connor, and Trent Barnabas were declared champions with a race to spare. However, racing was tight among the rest of the fleet with only seconds between competitors at each mark. Ultimately the top-ten were determined in the series final, with only five points separating 2nd-6th place. Congratulations to North-powered teams who finished 1, 2*, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7th with most using North Sails 3DL and some using a combination of North Sails 3Di RACE and 3DL.
The winning team of Thurlow Fisher Lawyers had 3Di RACE for their larger mainsail and jib, both new this season. 3Di RACE is a new product targeted to smaller racing boats, which benefit from the product’s wide wind ranges and increased “readability.” The 18ft Skiff is no doubt the smallest application we have seen for the 3Di product, so we asked Dave O’Connor, trimmer on Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, to report on how the sails have handled: READ MORE
Rightfully known as “the champions among us,” the North Sails One Design roster is a remarkable collection of world-class sailmakers. It was Gillard’s single-minded pursuit of excellence that caught the attention of Paul Hobson, the head of the One Design squad at North Sails.
A VISIONARY SAIL DESIGNER | GAUTIER SERGENT (1977-2024)
The North Sails family and sailing world mourn the loss of Gautier Sergent.
Gautier personified North Sails—an absolute expert who drew from his experience to relentlessly advance our competitive edge.
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