Please select your home edition
Edition
C-Tech 2020 Battens 2 728x90 TOP

2020 Australian Youth Championships at Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club - Day 3

by Australian Sailing 12 Jan 2020 23:25 PST 10-14 January 2020
Australian Youth Championships 2020 © Beau Outteridge

Racing was abandoned due to poor air quality and low visibility from the bush fires along with light shifty wind on day three of the Youth Championships at Sorrento Sailing and Couta Boat Club (SSCBC). After waiting five hours for conditions to improve, a cheer went up from the competitors when it was announced racing was abandoned.

Principal Race Officer David Brookes explained the impact the fires were having on conditions, "There are two factors here: air quality and visibility".

Australian Sailing Regatta Manager Lesley Fasala said safety was their top priority when making decisions. "Air quality was impacted by the easterly winds from the bushfires," Lesley said moments after racing was abandoned. "The EPA air quality was at the upper end of the Poor rating. While we are aware of the sailors we already know have asthma or health issues, we also have to consider some people may have adverse reactions that we don't know about."

Coaches were happy to get there sailors back home to rest after the long day. "We want fair and safe racing," Olympian and Head of State Coaching in Victoria Carrie Smith said. "As unfortunate as it is with the conditions we had today, we just want to go out there and have the best sailor win. If today has to be cancelled it just puts more pressure and intensity into tomorrow's racing."

New Zealand Int 420 team sisters Keira and Leah Sinton were relieved when the decision was made to abandon. "It would have been nice to get some racing in today but we can understand why the race committee made that decision," Leah said as the two of them derigged their dry boat. "In the end it was probably for the best after we were held on shore for such a long time. I think everyone had relaxed."

"The energy was just gone so there was no point in sailing because I was so relaxed after all that time on shore," Keira added.

Leah agreed. "You show up and you're all ready to go and then you get held on shore for hours. You end up chilling out a bit too much."

Brooke Wilson (NSW) in the Laser Radial class was disappointed but looking forward to tomorrow, "I was hoping to get back out there. I guess we just show up again tomorrow and try again."

Find full results here.

For more information visit www.sailingyouth.org.au.

Related Articles

America's Cup: Running silent and deep, again.
A look at the flotsam that has surfaced as the Cup teams again go into deep and silent negotiation. A look at the state of the Cup - given the three weeks of silence since the hasty final Protocol signing. Previously a long deep dive by the teams has indicated that a lot of negotiation is underway. Here's what we've seen floating on the surface. Posted today at 5:58 am
Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup Day 1
Despite hurdles, familiar faces surge to the fore With a punchy 15-knot easterly and six-foot seas, the first day of the ninth edition of the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup was a trial by fire for the 20 all-amateur crews pursuing Corinthian yachting's most treasured prize. Posted today at 3:42 am
J/24 Worlds 2025 in Plymouth, UK Day 1
4 metre waves and gusts in excess of 30 knots 50 J24's from 12 countries (Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, USA and the UK) descended upon Plymouth, UK for their five day World Championship. Posted today at 3:35 am
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2025 Day 2
Early World Championship leads for Magic Carpet E and Jolt in Porto Cervo After yesterday's frustrating lack of racing, the Costa Smeralda delivered for day two of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. Posted on 9 Sep
Globe40 and La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec
A look at the Globe40 and the La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec It's always an encouraging sign when a round-the-world race begins its second edition, especially when the steeds in question are approachable boats for most serious sailors. Posted on 9 Sep
35th Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup at Porto Cervo Day 2
Magic Carpet E, Jolt, Nice, H2O and Moat lead in their respective classes The second day of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup delivered excellent racing conditions for the fleet assembled in Porto Cervo, with north-westerly winds averaging 16 knots. Posted on 9 Sep
iQFOiL U23 Worlds at Portimão day 2
Today, attention once again turns to the unique race area in front of the Santa Catarina fortress. Yesterday, the opening day of the U23 World Championships set the tone for a high-level competition in Portimão. Strong northwesterly winds of 15-18 knots allowed the Race Committee to launch four Course Racing starts. Posted on 9 Sep
2025 Star Worlds at Split, Croatia Day 2
Negri and Lambertenghi win Day Two after tactical duel on the Adriatic The second day of racing at the 2025 Star World Championship in Split, Croatia, saw the full 101-boat fleet return to the water for Race 2 after a 90-minute wait ashore. Posted on 9 Sep
La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 1 Day 3
All That for This... While most people ashore were sitting down for lunch, a strange ballet was unfolding at sea off Dieppe. Carried by the rising tide in the Channel and with barely a breath of wind, the solo sailors struggled to escape the second course mark, Daffodils. Posted on 9 Sep
The Ocean Race Europe Leg 5 Day 3
Paprec Arkéa leads as new breeze sends IMOCA fleet speeding south Yoann Richomme's Paprec Arkéa team took two points for leading through the Leg 5 Scoring Gate ahead of Allagrande Mapei Racing. Posted on 9 Sep
Switch One DesignVaikobi Custom TeamwearC-Tech 2020 Battens 2 728x90 BOTTOM