A young Sydney crew led by rookie 18ft Skiff skipper Euan Mc Nicol took out the world’s most prestegous title when they won the Ssangyong JJ Giltinan International 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour yesterday.

Mc Nicol, Seve Jarvin and Tim Austin produced amazing consistency against the world’s most experienced skiff sailors to narrowly take the championship in their Club Marine-sponsored skiff.

They went into Sunday’s final heat with a small lead, but midway through the race were so far back in the pack they appeared to have absolutely no chance of taking the championship.

In the tradition of all champions they never gave up and worked their way back to 9th place at the finish.

The placing required to give them victory by one point from Hugh Stodart’s Asko Appliances, which also sailed brilliantly throughout the championship.

The regatta was the closest ever staged since the first JJ Giltinan was first sailed in 1938.

The seven races produced six different winners and the overall result was only decided a few hundred metres from the finishing line of the last heat.