Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron declared Team Racing Champions

by Erin Cameron on 2 Dec 2002 Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron have been declared the official Australian Champions of Team Racing, after winning what proved to be a tough battle for supremacy in the Australian Team Racing Championship.

The event was conducted on the waters of Sandy Bay over the weekend, hosted jointly by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania and the Sandy Bay Sailing Club. Seven teams contested the Championship, two teams representing Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (QLD) and the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (TAS), and one team each from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (NSW), Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (NSW), and Albert Park Yacht Club (VIC).

Day One of competition was sailed in light conditions early in the day, increasing to a 12-14 knot seabreeze for the afternoon races. The Race Committee were able to conclude Round Robin One, fitting 21 races into the schedule.

RQYS Team 1 showed early dominance, winning all 6 of their starts. The CYCA team also showed strength in this racing discipline, winning 5 of their 6 races. A protest was lodged between the CYCA team and Albert Park Yacht Club, which was later dismissed.

Round Robin Two was sailed on Saturday, in a steady 12 knots. All teams enjoyed the perfect conditions, with racing being extremely close, and positions changing right up to the finish line.

RQYS 1 again finished at the top of the table with five wins, whilst RYCT 1, RQYS 2 and RPAYC each had four wins. Due to their high standings after the Round Robins, RQYS 1 and RYCT 1 automatically progressed to the semi finals, while the other teams were to endure the Elimination Finals on Sunday before moving to the Semis.

Elimination Final 1 was between RPAYC and APYC. After a close match, APYC was eliminated from the series, while RPAYC progressed to the Semi Finals.

Elimination Final Two was contested by CYCA and RQYS 2. RQYS 2 defeated the CYCA team, moving on to the next round.

The Semi Finals were extremely intense, with the crews battling for pole position, eager to move up to the final round. RQYS 1 defeated RQYS 2, and RYCT 1 beat the RPAYC team. The Finals would be the decider between the Queenslanders and the Tasmanians.

The Finals were sailed in 10 knots of breeze, testing the sailors’ tactical skills. In an extremely close match, RQYS 1 defeated the RYCT 1 team to become the 2002 Australian Team Racing Champions. RPAYC were officially declared third place.

The RQYS 1 and RYCT 1 teams will now be nominated to the AYF Board for consideration to represent Australia in the 2003 ISAF World Team Racing Championship. The World Championship will be conducted in Auckland from the 31 January – 7 February 2003.