Harken Youth Match Racing Championship - Hazard leads after day 1
by Damian Devine on 23 Nov 2012
Day one leader Dave Hazard, right, in action. Damian Devine
Defending Harken Youth Match Racing Champion Dave Hazard representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is the provisional leader after day one with eleven of the fourteen flights completed in the first round robin on Pittwater today, hosted by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.
Hazard, the highest ranked match racer in the fleet and in his third and final Harken regatta was the favourite coming into the regatta particularly with the 2011 win under his belt.
After the 0830hrs race briefing, racing got underway at 1030hrs under RO Ted Anderson in a consistent 10-15 knot south easterly with a course set north of Scotland Island under Longnose Point.
The defending champion Hazard was completely dominant today with a perfect scorecard of six from six to finish on top of the leader board ahead of club compatriot Chris Steele who had one less match but also a perfect record to finish on five from five. They will race each other tomorrow in the final flight in what will be the most anticipated match of the round robin.
In fact, the RNZYS is commanded all the attention after day one with their third team, the all-female crew skippered by Claudia Pierce sitting in fourth place with four wins from seven starts today with the trio of teams only split by Sam Gilmour from WA’s Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, currently in third with five wins from eight starts today.
Commenting on the days racing the humble Hazard said dockside, 'Yeah, pretty happy with today’s effort. Pittwater was kind to us with a good, consistent breeze which made for a great day’s racing. The crew learnt a lot from the match ups and worked well together. We’re off to the best start possible but there’s still a long way to go and we’re not getting ahead of ourselves. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.'
The highest placed team from the host club, the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club is Milly Bennett who had four wins to finish the day in fifth place.
The forecast for tomorrow is for a lighter 8-12 knot East South Easter under overcast skies and a top of 22 degrees. If the forecast rings true, it could be quite a fickle and challenging day on Pittwater as the race committee aim to complete round one and as much of round two as possible.
Day 1
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Round One
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Day 1
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Round One
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Flight
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Match
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Team
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Winner
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Flight
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Match
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Team
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Winner
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Flight 1
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Match 1:
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L.Bennett V Hazard
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Harzard
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Flight 11
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Match 1:
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Hazard V Stevens
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Hazard
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Match 2:
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Stevens V Ellis
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Ellis
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Match 2:
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Doyle V M.Bennett
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M.Bennett
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Match 3:
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Steele V Gilmour
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Steele
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Match 3:
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Gilmour V Pierce
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Gilmour
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Day 2
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Round One
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Flight 2
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Match 1:
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L.Bennett V Pierce
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Pierce
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Flight 12
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Match 1:
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Match 2:
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Steele V M.Bennett
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Steele
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Match 2:
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Match 3:
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Stevens V Gilmour
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Gilmour
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Match 3:
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Flight 3
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Match 1:
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L.Bennett V McKensie
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L.Bennett
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Flight 13
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Match 1:
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Match 2:
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Stevens V M.Bennett
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M.Bennett
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Match 2:
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Match 3:
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Hazard V Doyle
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Hazard
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Match 3:
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Flight 4
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Match 1:
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M.Bennett V Ellis
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M.Bennett
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Flight 14
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Match 1:
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Match 2:
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Pierce V Hazard
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Hazard
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Match 2:
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Match 3:
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Doyle V McKenzie
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McKenzie
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Match 3:
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Flight 5
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Match 1:
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Ellis V Gilmour
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Gilmour
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Flight 15
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Match 1:
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Match 2:
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McKenzie V Hazard
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Hazard
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Match 2:
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Match 3:
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Pierce V Doyle
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Pierce
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Match 3:
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Flight 6
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Match 1:
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M.Bennett V Gilmour
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Gilmour
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Match 2:
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McKenzie V Pierce
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Pierce
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Match 3:
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Ellis V Steele
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Steele
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Flight 7
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Match 1:
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Gilmour V McKenzie
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Gilmour
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Match 2:
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L.Bennett V Doyle
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Doyle
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Match 3:
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Stevens V Steele
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Steele
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Flight 8
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Match 1:
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Gilmour V Hazard
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Hazard
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Match 2:
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Ellis V L.Bennett
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Ellis
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Match 3:
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McKenzie V Stevens
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McKenzie
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Flight 9
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Match 1:
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Pierce V Stevens
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Stevens
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Match 2:
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M.Bennett V L.Bennett
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M.Bennett
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Match 3:
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Gilmour V Doyle
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Doyle
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Flight 10
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Match 1:
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Stevens V L.Bennett
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Stevens
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Match 2:
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M.Bennett V Pierce
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Pierce
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Match 3:
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Steele V McKenzie
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Steele
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http://www.rpayc.com.au/regatta/2012-harken-international-youth-match-racing-championship" target="_blank">Event website
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