Sharp confirmed as sponsor of Australian Youth MR Championship

by Lauren Hopper on 29 Sep 2016 As part of an exciting five year deal with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), Sharp Corporation of Australia will be the naming rights sponsor for the next three years of the Australian Youth Match Racing Championship, with a continuing sponsorship of other CYCA youth events in 2019 and 2020.

After securing the right to host the Australian Youth Match Racing Championship until 2019, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia have been working hard to secure a naming rights sponsor, and are excited to announce the new partnership between Sharp and the club.

Ed Gaete, Sharp Australia's Sydney and Canberra, B2B Branch Manager said, 'It's grass roots sponsorship's like these that form real long term business relationships and offer both companies real value in terms of branding. It's Sharp's first partnering with a Sailing Club, and the sporting event will surely provide great exposure for Sharp... both on the harbour and around the sailing community with young and old alike. We are proud to be associated with the CYCA, and look forward to the coming season, Gaete said'.

The return of the Australian Youth Match Racing Championship to the CYCA has seen a massive boost in interest in the event with 14 expressions of interest received to date. From that list, ten teams have been invited to compete and will represent four states from around Australia including Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.

Not only are team’s vying for the Australian Youth Match Racing Champion title, but this year the winner will also receive an invitation to the World Sailing Grade 2 event - the 2016 Musto International Youth Match Racing Championship hosted by the CYCA in November.

“The Club has put in a lot of effort to make this event the best it’s been in recent years. The event will see some of Australia’s best young match racers go head to head and it’s great to have so many states represented this year,” commented CYCA Commodore John Markos.

This year will not only feature defending champion Harry Price (CYCA/NSW), who in the past twelve months has risen from 40th in the world to now 10th, (highest ranked U23 skipper), but will also see current World Youth Match Racing Champion, William Dargaville (RPAYC/NSW) compete.

The rivalry between these two skippers will continue through the week long competition from 20-23 October 2016.

Current Australian Women’s Match Racing Champion, Clare Costanzo (RPAYC / NSW) will also be one to watch, as too James Hodgson (MYC/QLD) who recently took out the Queensland Match Racing State Titles after a six month absence from the sport due to injury.

For the first time, Scots College will compete for the Australian National title with Finn Tapper taking the helm for the event. The young Scots student has improved vastly over the winter period, having participated in the world renowned CYCA Youth Sailing Academy winter squad.

Ethan Prieto-Low will represent Western Australia in what will be only his second Match Racing event and Rhett Gowans will take the helm for the Victorian entry from Sandringham Yacht Club. Other New South Wales teams include the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

The racing will commence on Thursday 20 October, with a double round robin qualifying series and knockout series scheduled through to Sunday 23 October where the 2016 Australian Youth Match Racing Champions will be crowned.