All Aboard for NSW Secondary Schools titles

by Robyn Valentine on 22 Mar 2006 Ten teams from New South Wales are preparing to defend their schools on Pittwater this weekend (25-27 March, 2006), to contest the prestigious NSW Secondary Schools Team Racing Championship.

Organised by Yachting New South Wales and hosted by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club at Newport, the event is an annual regatta based on a three day format with a spare day. There will be approximately 70 races scheduled, with each place worth a point each.

Teams Racing is very popular with schools, involving racing in two-handed dinghies – currently Pacers - with three boats per side/school. The two teams race against each other in an attempt to achieve a winning number of places and points.

The event is an annual regatta and has been running since 1985. It is open to all State secondary schools in New South Wales, to a maximum of ten teams, with all competitors eighteen years or less by the end of the year.

This year, likely entrants include Mater Maria Catholic College (Warriewood), St Catherine’s Anglican Girls’ School (Waverley), Cranbrook School (Woollahra), The Scots College (Woollahra), Knox Grammar School (Wahroonga), Barrenjoey High School (Avalon), Pittwater High School (Bayview), SCECGS Redlands (Cremorne), Manly Selective High School (Brookvale), and St Paul’s High School (Booragul).

Yachting NSW’s Coaching & Development Manager, Kristen Kosmala can’t wait until the weekend’s racing, 'This regatta is always really exciting to watch and to be involved in. The racing is always very close in the final stages, keeping spectators, participants and race management on edge right up until the last boat crosses the line in the last race. It’s great fun, and an area where many young sailors can make their mark.'

Past winners include Pittwater High (x 8), Davidson High (x1), Barrenjoey High (x2), Sydney Grammar (x1), Scots College (x3), St Paul’s High School (x1), Cranbrook x 1, and Mater Maria Catholic College who won last years’ event.

The event also acts as pre-selection for the 2006 Australian Schools Team Racing Championship which will be held at Royal Yacht Club of Victoria from 30 June – 3 July, 2006.