James Spithill special guest for 19th Harken Youth MR Champsionships

by Damian Devine on 25 Nov 2011 Fresh back from winning the unique fleet and match racing double at the AC45 World Series in San Diego, James Spithill, current America’s Cup winning skipper and one of RPAYC’s favourite sons, has come back home especially to be the special guest for the 19th annual Harken International Youth Match Racing Championships and Rockin' Robin Trophy, hosted by The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club from Saturday 26 November until Wednesday 30 November 2011.

He will be guest speaker at the opening ceremony on Saturday 26 November to welcome the competitors and talk about his history with the Harken and the doorways it opened for him. He will also be on the water to witness the match racing action first hand and will certainly provide some added inspiration and motivation for the youthful competitors.

One of the premier events for youth on the match racing circuit, the 2011 Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship marks the 14th consecutive year with Harken Australia as naming rights sponsor.

Their ongoing commitment to the development of youth match racing is a credit to the Northern Beaches leading manufacturer and marketer of quality sailboat hardware and accessories.

'The Harken' as it is known in youth sailing circles worldwide stands out as one of the premier events for youth on the International match racing calendar and has during its 19 year history served as a launch pad for a number of local yachting stars including dual Harken winning skippers James Spithill, Michael Dunstan, Seve Jarvin and more recently Torvar Mirsky who has since become a rising star on the World Circuit.

This year teams from Australia and New Zealand will compete for the Rockin’ Robin Perpetual Trophy* with two teams from New Zealand and six from Australia.

2010 winner Tim Coltman representing the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club (NZ) will be back to defend his title whilst 2010 runner up Jordan Reece, RSYS, will be hoping to go one better. Other teams will come from host club The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, CYCA, RNZYS, and GSC.

The 2011 Harken International event is certified Grade 3 for ISAF match race rankings. After a team weigh-in, training and event launch on Saturday, match racing will commence on Pittwater on Sunday and conclude with the finals on Wednesday 30 November. The windward/leeward course is set just north of Scotland Island and spectators are encouraged to come along.

The event will be sailed in the Club's fleet of Force 24' yachts which are purpose built for match racing so it is more a test of sailing ability than design, materials and development. The boats are extremely popular with competitors due to their lively performance.

Each team can have up to five crew with a maximum crew weight limit of 350Kg, all of who must be under 21 years of age.

The teams will sail two complete round robins with every team sailing twice against each other. The teams will then battle it out in a series of semi finals and finals. The top two teams will then sail a best of five final to decide the winner and awarded the coveted Rockin’ Robin Trophy.*

RO for the event will once again be Ted Anderson whose experience goes back to the Olympic match racing in 2000 and Chief Umpire will be Phil Mostyn who leads a formidable cast of umpires with National and International experience.

Teams will be billeted with RPAYC Club members, a custom that has forged many longstanding friendships in past years. The organisation of an event of this calibre would not be possible without the aid of a dedicated team of volunteers and RPAYC members.

Follow all the action on the water from Sunday with live results here

* Robyn Wiltshire presented the Club with a perpetual trophy named the ‘Rockin’-Robin Trophy’. Robyn presented the trophy in memory of her husband Grant and son Robert, Andrew Young & Jeff Smith, all Club members who tragically lost their lives at sea aboard the yacht ‘Rockin’ Robin’ whilst on passage to Fiji in 1990.