NSW Secondary Schools Team Racing Championships

by Robyn Valentine on 23 Mar 2007 More than sixty students from throughout New South Wales are preparing to defend their schools when they converge on Lake Macquarie this weekend (23-25 March, 2007) to contest the prestigious 2007 NSW Secondary Schools Team Racing Championship.

Organised by Yachting New South Wales and run out of the Point Wolstoncroft Sport and Recreation Centre, racing will begin at about 10.30 am Friday morning, and 9.00 am Saturday and Sunday and will run all day, with a back-to-back format, ensuring plenty of action and fierce competition.

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 constant racing format ensures that teams are always on tactical alert to gain the extra edge over their rivals and any one result can affect overall outcomes.

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 entrants include current champions Mater Maria Catholic College (Warriewood), Abbotsleigh School for Girls (Wahroonga), Cranbrook School (Woollahra), The Scots College (Woollahra), Knox Grammar School (Wahroonga), Pymble Ladies College ‘PLC’ (Pymble), St Ignatious College ‘Riverview’ (Hunters Hill), SCECGS Redlands (Cremorne) and St Lukes Grammar School (Dee Why).

Yachting NSW’s Development Officer, Andrew Cribb, is all fired up for the weekend’s racing,

'This regatta is set to be really exciting for all those involved in the event. 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 ', commented Andrew Cribb this morning.

The event also acts as pre-selection for the 2007 Australian Schools Team Racing Championship which will be held at Sandy Bay Sailing Club/Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania on 14-18th June 2007.

www.nsw.yachting.org.au