Musto Int'l Youth Match Racing Championship - Trans Tasman Final

by Pam Scrivenor and Jennifer Crooks on 25 Nov 2010 CYCA’s Jay Griffin will go into the last day of the Musto International Youth Match Racing Championship with one win in the semi finals under his belt. Competitors were presented with perfect match racing conditions yet again with the day’s program of minor placing sail-offs and round one of the semi finals being conducted in the vicinity of Rushcutters Bay.

Today’s conditions were slightly milder than yesterday with winds from the north north east at 12 knots, gusting up to 14; which gradually built throughout the day to 19 knots with gusts of up to 23 knots.

Representing the host club, the CYCA team of Jay Griffin, Henry Kernot and Hamish Hardy finished the round robin on top with 14 points, with Griffin being handed his second defeat of the regatta in the last match of the round robin by RPNYC’s Tim Coltman by a meagre ½ second.

As Griffin has suffered his two defeats of the championship to Coltman (RPNYC) and Hazard (RNZYS), Griffin elected to sail off against fellow CYCA YSA club mate Olivia Price; leaving the two New Zealanders to sail off against each other.

Tim Forbes-Smith (CYCA) was the improver of the day. After finishing ninth in the first round robin, he climbed to seventh after the second round robin and then the slate was wiped clean for the minor placing sail off. Forbes-Smith’s first race in this stage was against Ryan Scott (RNZYS) who incurred a penalty in the prestart due to contact. Scott then trailed Forbes-Smith for the entire race and was unable to get past his improving opponent. Forbes-Smith crossed the finish line one boat length ahead of Scott who then had to complete his outstanding penalty.

After enjoying a short rest, while the sail-off for minor places was conducted, Griffin was back to his best trouncing Price in the first match of the semi final in an almost clinical display of match racing.

Coltman (RPNYC) defeated fellow countryman Hazard (RNZYS) in their semi final match-up but only after Hazard led at the first top mark rounding. With the breeze gusting up to 20 knots on first down wind leg, Coltman managed to soak down inside Hazard and lead around the bottom mark. The two were never more than two boat lengths apart for the rest of the race and Coltman held on to win by 6 seconds.

Racing will resume tomorrow at 1115hrs with the remaining matches of the semi final being sailed, that will determine who will be sailing in the Grand Final and Petit Final.

The forecast for tomorrow is north to north easterly 10 - 15 knots tending north easterly 15-25 knots during the afternoon, on slight seas. Live results will be posted to the CYCA’s website http://www.cyca.com.au/editorial.asp?key=4078.

Results from Day 3:

Semi Final Flight One

Griffin (CYCA) dft Price (CYCA)
Coltman (RPNYC) dft Hazard (RNZYS)

Minor Placings

Forbes-Smith (CYCA) - 5th
Scott (RNZYS) - 6th
Noye (RYCT) - 7th
Tailby (RPNYC) - 8th
Doyle (RPAYC) - 9th

For Stage three results log on to http://www.cyca.com.au/sysfile/downloads/Musto10_RR3.pdf