Warren Jones International Youth Regatta at Perth - Day 4
by Jonny Fullerton 1 Feb 2018 21:33 PST
29 January - 2 February 2018
George Anyon / Jelmer van Beek - 2018 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta - Day 4 © Rick Steuart
The semi-finalists at the 2018 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta literally came down to the wire in the last two matches of Round Robin 2 as the sun went down over Perth Waters.
It had been yet another really challenging day for PRO Kim Laurence and his race management team with very light and fickle Easterly's early in the afternoon. Having struggled to get some early Round Robin 2 flights going in almost drifting conditions, finally a light sea breeze arrived late afternoon to set up a fitting finale as the skies turned to gold over the city.
Local sailor Will Boulden and his Alpha Racing Team from Royal Freshwater Bay YC kept his cool throughout Round Robin 2 only losing one match to his rival from across the Tasman, George Anyon and another to James Hodgson and his Sydney based team. Will finished Round Robin 2 with a final race win over Harry Price to record a scoreline of 19 wins and 3 losses (86%).
Harry Price and his experienced crew onboard Down Under Racing Team, representing the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, pushed Will Boulden all the way but faltered in a key match against the local young gun Marcello Torre (Velocity Racing Team). Harry had inflicted two penalties on the teenage crew before the start, one was offloaded immediately in front of the start boat and the other at the last top mark rounding. Marcello bowed out of the competition with a wealth of experience and pride intact.
George Anyon from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron came back with vengeance in Round Robin 2 with the best scoreline of any team (10 wins - 1 loss). Some excellent racing from him assures there will be a kiwi team in the semi-finals. George reached this stage of the regatta last year and could still go one better to reach the final.
The final semi-final place also went down to the last flight of the day. Visiting Dutch Team Wave skippered by Jelmer van Beek looked to be in the box seat for a place until his chances faded in the dying breeze earlier in the day. He lost a crucial match against Mark Spearman which left him with two tough battles to finish the Round Robin against regatta leaders Will Boulden and Harry Price. Meanwhile local skipper Mark Spearman from Royal Freshwater Bay YC had been chipping away through his matches leaving a mouth watering situation to decide the final semi-final spot. George Anyon had to beat Jelmer in the final flight to allow Mark Spearman's team to sneak through on count back. This he did leaving the Dutch team disappointed but it was a very credible effort on their part in their first Warren Jones International Youth Regatta. It is a competition that is rarely won at the first attempt.
The remaining teams bow out of the competition at this stage and the finals are due to take place on Friday starting from late afternoon if mother nature does not intervene. The forecast is again for very light and shifting breezes.
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