John Messenger Women's Match Racing Regatta at CYCA - Day 1
by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia 28 Oct 2022 19:51 AEDT
28-30 October 2022
Superb conditions for Day 1 of the John Messenger Women's Match Racing Regatta, hosted by the CYCA © Darcie Collington Photography
Sydney produced a superb opening day for the John Messenger Women's Match Racing Regatta, which also incorporates the Australian Women's Match Racing Championship for 2022. The 3-day regatta saw the five teams from Australia and New Zealand sail in perfect conditions of 14 - 20 knots.
With the race course positioned perfectly for the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge & Opera House shot, the crews comprising of five female sailors, sailing the CYCA's fleet of Elliott 7s completed 8 races each.
The epic conditions saw gusts of 26 knots at times, with a few wipe outs and spinnaker trawls, as boat speeds increased across the day. Juliet Costanzo (RPAYC) currently sits at the top of the pile with 6 wins from 8 races. After a slow start in round robin one, Costanzo went undefeated in round robin two to rise above the rest.
Juliet and her team have recently returned to Australia after a long stint of match racing in Europe. The young team from Pittwater is training hard for the upcoming Women's Match Racing World Championship, hosted by RNZYS in Auckland next month. The winner of this event will also qualify for the event.
"We had a good day getting back into the Elliotts, especially with XXX sailing the boats for the first time. We are working hard on our preparation for the Women's Match Racing World Championship which is also going to be in Elliotts next month." Commented Juliet following Day 1.
However, the chasing pack is tightly bunched, with second and third placed tied on 5 points. Brooke Wilson (RSYS) holds the rights for second position, having beaten third placed, Chelsea Williams (CYCA) in both rounds.
Fellow RSYS Club Member, Charlotte Griffin, who has returned to the match racing circuit after a number of years away also had a good day to lay in fourth on 4 points. Brooke Adamson from Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, and the sole kiwi to make the journey across the ditch, currently sits in fifth, chasing her first win.
The three-day event will continue with another two round robins scheduled for Saturday, with conditions expected to ease slightly. Follow racing live throughout the event at www.matchracingresults.com