Young sailors to shine at Sharp Australian Youth Match Racing Championship

Sharp has supported the Australian Youth Match Racing Championship since 2016 © Nick Fondas

The best young sailors in the country will converge on the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) next week 8-12 October for the annual Sharp Australian Youth Match Racing Championship (Sharp AYMRC). The Championship, which began in 2001 with the likes of Nathan Outteridge, Katie Spithill and Michael Dunstan among the young skippers, has a long heritage of producing the next generation of preeminent sailing talent.

"For 18 years the Australian Youth Match Racing Championship has attracted the best young talent in this country," says CYCA Commodore Paul Billingham.

"We are proud to host this important event, and I personally look forward to cheering on our Youth Sailing Academy teams as they compete for the Australian title.

"Good luck, though to all participating."

Sharp Corporation of Australia, recognising the Championship as an integral component of youth sailing development in this country, has supported the event since 2016. Now in their third year of partnership, Sharp continues to be actively involved with the event, as well as the broader CYCA community.

"The team from Sharp's innovation hub is keenly focused on grassroots partnerships like these," says Uptik Sales Director Mario Bernatovic.

"We are excited to again be supporting the CYCA and happy for the exposure Sharp will receive during the Australian Youth Match Racing Championships. We are even more excited though for the opportunity to support and engage with the sailing community, young and old alike."

The CYCA has enjoyed amazing success at the Sharp AYMRC, with our sailors claiming more than half of the Championship titles over the event's 18-year history. Past winners include Seve Jarvin (2003 & 2004) who went on to become a seven-time 18ft Skiff world champion, and Will Ryan (2007 & 2008) who won a silver medal at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics in the men's 470 class.

This year's Championship will mark the final time CYCA will host the event, having been appointed the AMRYC by Australian Sailing on a three-year contract. Since then the CYCA has rejuvenated the event thanks to the assistance of Sharp, and this year will once again see a full line up of 10 teams from five states and territories around the country competing for the ultimate title.

Three teams from the CYCA's Youth Sailing Academy will take on representatives from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (NSW), as well as Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (TAS), Sandringham Yacht Club (VIC), Mooloolaba Yacht Club (QLD), and Darwin Sailing Club (NT).

The event is the second of the Australasian youth match racing circuit hosted by the CYCA, preceded by the Club Marine NSW Youth Match Racing Championship in August, and followed by the Musto International Youth Match Racing Regatta in November. Keep up with all the action throughout the event by using and following #SharpAYMRC, and stay updated as results are posted to the Live Results page of the CYCA website.