‘Family feuds’ at the J.J. Giltinan

Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League

Posted: 9  Feb. 2010

Elder statesman John Woody Winning (Yandoo) will compete against son John 'Herman' Winnng

Fathers and sons and brothers will feature strongly and be pitted against each other at the 18 footers J.J. Giltinan Shield which starts on Sydney Harbour this Saturday.

While it’s not unusual that this happens in sport, it is unusual with the Kennedy brothers Mark and Scott, as not only will they be competing against each other, they will be representing different countries; Mark will represent Australia and Scott 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.

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.

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

Further information: www.flying18s.com and www.18footers.com.au

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