2022 Bollé International Youth Match Racing Regatta at the CYCA - Overall
by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia 26 Nov 2022 04:25 HKT
22-25 November 2022
2022 Bollé International Youth Match Racing Regatta © Darcie Collington
Cole Tapper with brother Finn, Nathan Gulliksen, Hugo Stoner and Ben Crafoord have been declared the overall winner of the 2022 'Joy Ride' Trophy, winning the Bolle International Youth Match Racing Regatta in emphatic style, dropping one race across the entire week.
Representing the powerhouse, which is the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Tapper, steering his first 'Joy Ride Trophy' event now joins the ranks of eight other CYCA skippers to have won the trophy.
"It's been an awesome week for us and our Club. We are so happy to come away with the trophy and it was just a fun week to be part of this event. A huge thank you to my team, sponsors Bolle Eyewear and of course the CYCA for running an impeccable event." Commented Cole Tapper at the prize-giving.
For Tapper, the writing was on the wall since the beginning of the week, with the young Aussie team was sailing fast and mature for their age throughout the competition. In the end, Cole won the Finals 3 - 0 over fellow Club Member Will Sargent and his team. For Sargent, it was an impressive display throughout the week as well, finishing second after the qualifying stages and only dropping one race across the quarter and semi-finals. The Finals series was still very close, with the scorecard not reflecting the intense racing that ensued.
In the petit-final, it was last weeks Harken champions who came out on top, with Ethan Prieto-Low beating New Zealander Josh Hyde 2 - 0.
Over the four-day competition, 97 races were completed for the event with the host Club now focused on hosting the Match Racing World Championship Final in December.