Girls just want to have fun, Harken International
by Lisa Ratcliff on 9 Mar 2006
RPAYC team of Aline Siepmann, Amy Lee, Nina Curtis and Kylie McKillop at the Harken Women’s International Match Racing Regatta team welcome function Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
They may be the some of the hottest international match racing talent but when asked by MC Nev Wittey how they thought they’d fair over the coming four days, the overwhelming response from the skippers at last night's Harken Women’s International Match Racing Regatta function was that fun is on the agenda.
Ten teams from New South Wales, Western Australia, New Zealand and France have arrived in Sydney for the four day regatta and had the opportunity to meet the sponsors, race officials and competitors at a welcome function held at the host club, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
While most of the sailors admitted they are aiming for a finish in the top half of the fleet, modesty and a quick glance at the competition prevented anyone claiming rights to the top spot, something quickly seized upon by Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club skipper Nina Curtis who, in good humour, said her team would take the win if no one else wanted it.
With three teams, two skippered by Australia’s top ranked women match racers, Katie Spithill, the defending champion, and Nicky Souter, the RPAYC is expected to feature heavily at the leading end of the competition.
The CYCA will be also be represented by three teams with the remaining teams from the South of Perth Yacht Club, Royal Perth Yacht Club, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and the APCC France yacht club represented by Christelle Philippe who is currently ranked 12th in the world, the highest ranked skipper of this regatta.
Carl Watson, managing director of Harken Oceania, took the opportunity tonight to wish everyone great sailing and fair sailing and passed on a message of support from Peter Harken, president of Harken Yacht Equipment.
'Peter is keen to continue Harken’s sponsorship of the CYCA and in particular its youth programs,' said Carl.
Racing aboard the CYCA’s ten Elliott 6m sports boats will commence tomorrow, 9 March, and each day at 10.00am in the vicinity of Rushcutters Bay with the finals to be raced on Sunday 12 March.
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