NSW Youth Match Racing Championship – Difficult conditions on Day 2

by Stacey French on 3 Aug 2015 Club Marine NSW Youth Match Racing Championship – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia team of Harry Price, Murray Jones, Finn Gilbert and Ben Robinson has won the race in difficult conditions.

“It’s great to have this result after such a mix of condition over the weekend,” Price said after finishing on top of the round robin with eight wins. Unfortunately the conditions only allowed for one round robin to be completed with no time for semis or finals.

“I’d like to thank Club Marine for their ongoing sponsorship of this regatta and look forward to competing in several of the youth events scheduled prior to the end of the year,” Price added.

The Sunshine Coast Sailing Team representing Mooloolaba Yacht Club and Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club travelled to the CYCA for the regatta. James Hodgson, Hayden Johnson, Fergus Gillanders and Ben Vercoe had an excellent regatta, taking the points against several of the higher ranked competitors finishing second.

Rounding out the podium places was Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club team of Malcolm Parker, Evelyn Foster, Sam Treharne and Harry Hall. Parker’s last race of the day was the one to determine the podium positions and with Price taking the win, this relegated Parker to third place.

Race Officer Darryl McManus had another tough day battling shifty conditions and trying to push through the required matches. Conditions were similar to those experienced on Saturday, but the glass out in the middle of the day lasted a little longer with the Elliott sevens waiting at the dock. The north-westerly breeze came in at about 10-12 knots just in time to get the last ten races in to complete the round robin before the time limit expired.

“The CYCA team of volunteers on the start boat did a fantastic job over the duration of the weekend in trying conditions,” McManus said. “It was great to have Commodore John Cameron on board for the final matches on Sunday to watch the CYCA not only take the win, but to also witness the racing spectacle provided by competitors.”

CYCA Director and Chairman of the Training and Development Committee, Anthony Dunn, thanked all the competing yacht clubs especially the interstate teams from Sunshine Coast and Sandringham Yacht Club (Nicola Armstrong). He also recognised the CYCA members who accommodated these teams and the umpires on their yachts – John Markos and Michael Delany (Eye Appeal), Derek McDonnell (Applejack), Richard Holstein (Next), John Messenger (Utopia) and David Shmith (Seamist).

Club Marine has been the naming rights sponsor of the NSW Match Racing Championship since 2004 and is the naming rights sponsorship of this regatta up to and including the 2016 edition. Club Marine also sponsors one of the Elliott seven boats and the CYCA’s Club Marine Wednesday Twilight series.

Club Marine NSW and QLD State Manager, Corey Yeung, presented prizes at prize giving and complemented the sailors on their performance.

“Congratulations to Harry Price and his team and to all competitors in this Championship,” Yeung said. “Club Marine is a proud sponsor of this regatta and as a company we see this as a perfect partnership to ensure the future development of youth sailing.”

Final Standings
First – Harry Price (CYCA)
Second – James Hodgson (SCST)
Third – Malcolm Parker (RPAYC)
Fourth – Clare Costanzo (RPAYC)
Fifth – Emma May (CYCA)
Sixth – Will Dargaville (RPAYC)
Seventh – Caitlin Tames (CYCA)
Eighth – Ryan Wilmot (RPAYC)
Ninth – Nicola Armstrong (SYC)
10th – Nick Rozenauser (RSYS)