2018 Harken International Youth Match Racing line-up confirmed
by Katie Pellew 6 Nov 22:36 PST
21-25 November 2018
Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship day 1 © Tom Vincent
The 2018 Harken International Youth Match Racing Regatta will host the World's best youth match racing talents, with competitors coming from across the globe including America, New Zealand, and interstate Australia. This year's event is again being managed by one of Australia's best Race Management and International Umpire teams, continuing its place as one of the most prestigious Youth Match Racing Events in the world.
With 6 of the 12 teams ranked within the world top 100, competition for this year's Rockin' Robin Trophy and Grade 2 ranking points will be fierce. RPAYC Head Coach Tom Spithill commented 'Not only has 'The Harken' got a big reputation in Australia as being one of the feature events of the year, we now have worldwide reach'.
Current Australian Open Match Racing Champion James Hodgson, who is representing The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, joins as the highest ranked competitor currently ranked 35th on the World Sailing Open Rankings. As the RPAYC teams have been worldly renowned for with strong mixed and female teams, this year emerging talent Juliet Costanzo is coming fresh off her win at the Australian Women's Match Racing Nationals. "Growing up watching this event I have always had aspirations to one day sail in it, so to be able to skipper a team for the Harken this year is really exciting', commented an excited Costanzo before she hit the water for training.
View the full list of Competitors here.
Racing for the Grade 2 International Youth Match Racing Regatta starts November 22nd at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in the clubs polished fleet of Elliott 7's.
Grant Pellew, HARKEN Australia Managing Director commented: 'We are heavily committed to youth sailing both here and overseas and have been extremely proud of our involvement in this event over the past 26 years. On behalf of Harken Worldwide we wish everyone Good Luck and may the best team win'.
For more information visit regatta website.