2016 Sharp Australian Youth Match Racing Championship - Day 1

by Olivia Price on 21 Oct 2016 Ideal conditions greeted the nine boat fleet competing in this year’s Sharp Australian Youth Match Racing Championship, with a solid 15-19 knot northerly breeze on Sydney harbour delivering some fast rides for the teams on board the CYCA’s Elliott 7m sports boats.

Having struggled to field a full line-up of teams in recent years at the championship, this week’s title sees a welcome return to a strong inter-state line up with Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales all competing in this year’s event.

The breeze peaked at 19 knots from the north on the harbour, making it a relatively straightforward day for officials and umpires. This week, the Elliott 7m yachts are sporting the asymmetrical spinnakers, showing that it was a relatively slow slog to the windward mark compared to the fast and wild downwind spinnaker runs.

With the home-state advantage, it was two New South Wales teams that paved the way for success, with the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s William Dargaville notching up a perfect scorecard for the day to be the early leader in this year’s National title quest. Dargaville took home 11 race wins with fellow club member, Clare Costanzo lying in sixth with half their score.

“It was a great day on the water for us, we came out ahead in every race although most were a lot closer than we hoped”, commented Dargaville. “We have been racing pretty hard as a team over the past few months so it’s great to have that pay off so far this week.”

Defending champion Harry Price made a near perfect start to his regatta, with the CYCA skipper taking nine wins from 10 races. Although Price infringed seven times throughout the day, superior speed and crew work enabled the team to claw their way back to their competitors, and then make passing moves.

Queensland’s lone entry from Mooloolaba Yacht Club sit in third place with James Hodgson returning to his first major match racing event in over a year due to injury. The Queensland State Champion is eager to make up for lost time as he prepares to compete in his biggest match racing event to date later next month in the CYCA’s Grade Two, Musto International Youth Match Racing Championship.

First time entrants, The Scots College, with Finn Tapper on the helm had an impressive day on the water. Having won the Sharp Invitational Fleet Race on Wednesday, the young team turned heads when they led their more experienced counterparts around the majority of the racetrack.

With the first of three round robin qualifying series completed today, racing will resume again tomorrow, Friday 21 October at 1000hrs in the vicinity of Rushcutters Bay. Racing can be followed live on the CYCA website here.