Pourquoi wraps up Yngling division at Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta

by Lisa Ratcliff on 8 Mar 2009
Three time Olympic sailor Karyn Gojnich called in the heavy artillery for the final day of the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta after her 16 year old daughter Amy was rostered for surf patrol at Manly’s North Steyne beach and couldn’t fill the for’ard hand’s shoes.

But it wasn’t enough to reign in the eventual divisional winner, Hamish Jarrett’s Pourquoi, which finished the six race series with a three point cushion over Gojnich’s Evie.

Alex Murray, wife of America’s Cup sailor and Beijing Olympian Iain Murray, who was part of the afterguard on Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats X racing offshore in Division 1, sailed bow for Gojnich for today’s two final races.

Fourteen year old Zoe Gojnich joined mum and dad John on Saturday, the opening day of the record-breaking fourth annual Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta, but had other commitments today.

John, who sailed as mainsheet hand for his wife, has supported Karyn through two of her three Olympic campaigns, in Athens and China, and she’s happy to share the credit for getting her to the start line.

'John’s a huge support, he’s my weather guru for this regatta and the Olympics,' acknowledged Gojnich today.

With the Ynglings now scrapped from the Olympic sailing classes, Mosman based Gojnich is yet to make the decision whether to switch to the new match racing discipline and go for a fourth.

'I’m still looking at it. It’s a time management challenge,' admitted the mother of two, who still has plenty of passion for the sport.

'It’s a sport for life, just because I’m in my late 40s doesn’t mean I can’t compete,' she added.

Under darkening skies, a dramatic green ocean and in a building sou’east breeze which peaked at 19 knots, the Yngling fleet joined the J24s and Cavalier 28s on Course area 8, off Mosman Bay.

'The racing was fantastic and so close, particularly as there were no race drops,' said the winning Yngling skipper Hamish Jarrett this afternoon.

He and the remaining divisional winners will head to Oran Park Raceway tomorrow for the Audi Final Challenge, the last stage that will decide the ultimate winner of the brand new Audi Q5 compact SUV that Audi has offered as the major prize.

Third in the Yngling division was Gary Wogas’ Karma from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.

Top three Yngling results:

1st POURQUOI Hamish Jarrett RSYS 10 points - 3 1 2 1 1 2
2nd EVIE Karyn Gojnich RSYS 13 points - 4, 2, 1, 2, 3, 1
3rd KARMA Gary Wogas RSYS 16 points - 1, 3, 3, 4, 2, 3,