Queensland Youth Week 2014, Racer Profiles Day 1

by Miles Ruge on 9 Jul 2014 Throughout the week of racing at the Australian Midwinter Youth Championship 2014 at Queensland Yacht Squadron (Manly), we’ll be profiling the leading competitors of a select series each day.

The entry level class Optimist Open Fleet is home to some of the youngest emerging sailing talent. At the end of the first day of sailing on Waterloo Bay, the New South Wales duo of Jack Littlechild and Archie Cropley lead the class tied on four points.

Cropley has been sailing for four years and this is his third appearance at the Midwinter Championships. 2014 is the second year at the Championships for Littlechild, who has only been sailing for two-and-a-half years.

Having made the most of the tricky conditions on day one, both hope to maintain their form for the remainder of the regatta. With a change in wind likely tomorrow, both remain focused on tactical sailing.

'Getting results I’d be happy not to drop,' said Littlechild.

'Stay close to your competitors,' added Cropley.

While both competitors are in the infancy of their sailing careers, they share dreams of sailing at an Olympic level.
'Like Jack said Olympics. I really want to get into the 29ers and 49ers when I stop Opti sailing,' remarked Littlechild.

Tomorrow’s profile will feature the leaders of the Laser Radial and Laser 4.7 series.