Marinassess Women’s Match Racing Regatta - Ready to go

by Jennifer Crooks on 8 Feb 2013 Marinassess Women’s Match Racing Regatta, which will be hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia this weekend, is set to feature some of the best female sailors in the country, including Olympic silver medallist Lucinda Whitty who will return to the bow of the Elliot 6.0m.

Whitty, will have Kathleen (Kat) Stroinovsky as her skipper for this event, with Stroinovsky the third highest ranked skipper in this event (ISAF Ranking 192) and will represent the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. The crew, including Samantha Boyd and Kate Brown, are the short priced favourites in this regatta, with Whitty’s Olympic experience predicted to pay dividends.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia will field five teams – all of whom have been training throughout the summer through the Friday evening Women’s Squad. Tara McCall is the highest ranked skipper of the regatta (ISAF Ranking 77) and is hoping to better her sixth place from last year.

Over the past year McCall has had mixed results that include a seventh place in the World University Match Racing Championship in France and a fourth place in the Australian Women’s Match Racing Championships.

Rosie Lee, Rayshele Martin, Emma May and Greta Quealy are the four other CYCA skippers - all have no current ISAF ranking. Martin was a crew member of last year’s winning team, skippered by Sophie Lahey, and will be joined by Ali Sutherland, Erica Kirby and Charlotte Holliday.

Emma May will be the youngest skipper for this regatta and has assembled a young crew, most of whom sail Flying 11s with her. They have recently competed separately in the Flying 11 Nationals held in Botany Bay and are looking forward to getting together for their first match racing regatta.

Milly Bennett, representing the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, is the seventh skipper in the regatta. Bennett is the second highest ranked skipper (ISAF Ranking 157) and has recently competed in Harken Youth Match Racing Regatta.

Commodore Howard Piggott said 'We welcome all these competitive teams to the Marinassess Women’s Match Racing Regatta and look forward to some great displays of match racing prowess.'

'The CYCA gratefully acknowledges the ongoing sponsorship from past Commodore John Messenger and Marinassess of this regatta, women’s match racing and the Youth Sailing Academy,' Commodore Piggott said.

Racing commences on Saturday 9 February at 1015hrs, in the vicinity of Rushcutters Bay, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting north to north easterly winds of 15 to 20 knots.

The event will conclude on Sunday 10 February when the second round robin and finals will be conducted. Live results will be available on Marinassess Women Match Racing Regatta from the commencement of the round robins.