Queensland Youth Week 2014 - Calm conditions on day 1

by Miles Ruge on 8 Jul 2014 Queensland Youth Week 2014 - Calm conditions heralded the first day of racing at the Australian Midwinter Youth Championships 2014 on Waterloo Bay, Manly today. Hosted by Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, and Yachting Australia, the five day event aims to provide up-and-coming sailors with an avenue to sharpen their racing skills in pristine winter sailing conditions.

Competitors and their support crews readied their boats in the rigging yard, before hitting the water around nine-thirty a.m. for the scheduled eleven a.m. start. However, light winds below three knots saw start times postponed across the three courses on Waterloo Bay in search of more favourable conditions later in the day.

When the 29ers eventually got a start it was the boat of Claire Mcinally that excelled through the first work into a variable North wind at around five knots. Mcinally continued her fast work off the line throughout the three races of day one, but could not stop New South Wales Sailor Kurt Hansen who dominated all three races to lead the series at the close of racing.

'We just wanted to manage the fleet, and work on our boat speed as well,' said Hansen.

In the 420s technical and tactical sailing was a must in the tricky conditions. Laura Harding worked her boat through the conditions to take the first race ahead of Alec Brodie, and Tom Cunich who were barely separable on the line. Harding continued her strong form to lead the fleet into day two.

Tom Crockett stormed to a convincing win in light winds in the last race of the day of the Flying11 series, well ahead of Simon Murhagan and Emma Jones who faced a fierce battle for second place. The win was Crockett’s second for the day and affirmed his position at the top of the series.

In the junior categories, Henry Larkings sailed to victory unimpeded well ahead of Will Bridge and William Wallis in the dying winds to take the lead at the end of the day. In the Optimist Open Fleet series it was Archie Cropley that lead the fleet home with a commanding win by five lengths from Alexander Higgins and Jack Littlechild. Littlechild and fellow New South Wales sailor Cropley lead the series tied on four points after day one.

'It was quite tough because it was pretty close racing, and everyone wanted to get ahead,' said Cropley.

Racing continues tomorrow, with a forecast increase in winds leaving competitors and officials hopeful for an exciting day of sailing on Waterloo Bay.

Series results after day one:

29er
1 Kurt Hansen
2 Amelia Stabback
3 Claire Mcinally

420
1 Laura Harding
2 Alec Brodie
3 Tom Cunich

Flying11
1 Tom Crockett
2 Stephen Hancock
3 Simon Event website