2014 Harken Int'l Youth MR Regatta - George Anyon shines on Day 1

by Stephen Collopy on 20 Nov 2014 A steady 15-18 knot NE sea-breeze provided the perfect opening day of racing for the RPAYC Harken International Youth Match Racing Regatta with 50 paired races making it one of the biggest day’s racing in the history of this regatta.

George Anyon, from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is becoming the one to watch in the year’s regatta. Having won the event last year as a crew member to skipper Chris Steele made George a bit of a dark horse having not skippered a boat in the event.

George and his crew managed to win seven of their eight races, they lost their only race to fellow Kiwis, Sam Mackay and his team from Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club. Sam has the highest ranking in this year’s event with an ISAF ranking of 78.

Regatta favourite, Harry Price from the CYCA, whose sister won silver at the London 2012 Olympics for match racing had a very comfortable start winning five matches from six. Harry’s team lost to Sam Ellis and his team from Gosford Sailing Club (GSC) who won six from eight for the day.

RPAYC sailor, Clare Costanzo showed she was one of the best female skippers of the day winning five from eight races. Clare and her team were very competitive in their matches having only just lost to George Anyon in a very narrow race.

The end of day one saw some very exciting match ups with the Kiwi teams with skippers Sam Mackay and George Anyon leading, both are sitting on seven wins out of eight matches. Followed closely by Harry Price (CYCA) sitting on five wins from six matches. Even though all three teams have only lost one race, percentage wise the Kiwis sit higher with an 88% win where Harry sits on 83% as he has completed only six matches.

Day two on the water is predicted to be a hot day with the mercury predicted to reach 36 degrees Celsius and variable winds. With a change of wind direction and strength it will be exciting to see who will shine today.

Day one standings are:

1st Sam Mackay (RPNYC), George Anyon (RNZYS)
2nd Harry Price (CYCA)
3rd Sam Ellis (GSC)
4th Malcolm Parker (RPAYC)
5th Clare Costanzo (RPAYC)
6th Milly Bennett (RPAYC)
8th Dylan Gore (RYCT)
9th Matthew Kempkers (RNZYS)
10th Tiphaine Leroux (New Cal)
11th Tom Trotman (SYC), Cyril Fortin (New Cal)