Fierce competition - Bavaria Yachts International

by Jenni Bonnitcha on 15 Nov 2007 Easterly winds provided a steady breeze with little need for course changes as the wind settled early today for a full round robin of match racing on Sydney Harbour. Forty five matches were completed on the first day of the Bavaria Yachts International Youth Match Racing Regatta with some of the closest sailing between club mates.

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s teams, skippered by Michael Thorpe and Reuben Corbett, started neck and neck in their match against each other. With three of the four laps of the course completed, Corbett got the inside at the last top mark rounding. It was Thorpe who gybed first and rolled over the top of Corbett and as the battle continued, Corbett attempted to dominate Thorpe to prevent him gybing. Thorpe hailed continually to the umpires resulting in two penalties against Corbett for sailing above proper course with the second penalty required to be taken immediately and in close proximity to the finish. This race went to Thorpe, Corbett’s club mate and training partner.

Thorpe went on to finish the day with only one loss against the CYCA team of Will Ryan, Ted Hackney and Jonathon English who hold the lead, undefeated, at the end of round robin one.

However it was not all easy sailing for Ryan. His CYCA training partner, Will MacKenzie let him off the hook in their race, by picking up a pre-start penalty from the umpires and then pushing his lead at the start too hard and being recalled. Despite starting late following a return to the start, MacKenzie maintained the pressure for the match.

Good sea breezes are predicted for the commencement of round robin two tomorrow and there should be good viewing of the day’s racing from Darling Point.

Results from day one available from http://www.cyca.com.au/sysfile/downloads/Bavaria_IYMR_07_Results_rr1.xls