Youngest team for Adelaide to Pt Lincoln race

by Port Lincoln Times on 25 Jan 2007 A Crew from Eyre Peninsula will be the youngest team of 70 boats to compete in SA's premier ocean racing event, the Adelaide to Lincoln Yacht race, on February 23.

The Sydney 32 One Design Yacht 'Ocean Mentor,' which was donated to the yacht club by Port Lincoln's Peter Teakle to foster the development of junior sailing talent, has a crew with an average age of 16 years.

The Ocean Mentor is one of only two youth sailing programs in Australasia, the other is based in Sydney.

The team, skippered by 2005/2006 Port Lincoln Yachtsman of the Year, Simon Turvey, has been competing in the local races all season with good success.

Port Lincoln Yacht Club Commodore, Andy Dyer, praised the young team for their results this season and believes they should achieve a good result in the race.

'They are very competitive and will be in amongst it with the other 32s competing,' Mr Dyer said.

'Their boat handling skills have come on really quickly, and tactically they race the boat really well.'

While the majority of the team has come through the junior sailing ranks, two of the crew taking part have not sailed previously.

First-time sailor Jay Williams, 16, from Elliston, is excited about the opportunity to crew on the Ocean Mentor, as 'it is an experience that I may never have again.'

For Dene Rodd, 15, from Port Lincoln having no sailing experience does not deter him from the larger swells they will encounter out at sea.

'When it's really windy, it's more exhilarating and gets the adrenaline pumping.'

Daniel Harder, 18, from Port Lincoln has been sailing for 10 years but enjoys the challenge of sailing on the larger boats.

'It's a great opportunity to sail in a bigger boat with mates your own age, and it will be a blast getting out in the ocean swells, in windy conditions.'

Brayden Clark, 18, from Elliston said the team was focused on doing well in their division, but would be happy just to have some fun.

'If we can get a decent placing, it will be pretty exciting,' he said.

While the 32-foot Ocean Mentor will have little chance of line honours against 100-foot boats such as Wild Thing, the young team is confident of being competitive.

At just 18 years of age Daniel Turner, of Port Lincoln, has taken part in four Adelaide to Lincoln races, continuing a family tradition of sailing.

His uncle, Steve Kemp, has competed in the America's Cup and Admirals Cup.

Daniel's aim is to compete in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race in the new few years.

Brayden said Mr Teakle's donation of Ocean Mentor was 'very generous,' and not many young people had the chance to experience sailing on such a yacht.

The sail over to Adelaide for the race start will be the final opportunity for crucial practice and extra experience for the young team.

In a race expected to take up to 24 hours to complete, none of the sailors are expecting any time for sleep.

Andy Dyer also believes the conditions might be the determining factor in Ocean Mentor's chances of doing well.

'If the conditions are tough, that's when experience really comes into play.

'They have been training really hard and with their youthful enthusiasm and the experience of skipper, Simon Turvey, they should have a good race.'

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