CYCA claims 2025 Helly Hansen International
by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia 28 Jan 16:43 AEDT
20-24 January 2025
CYCA wins the 2025 Helly Hansen International © CYCA | Darcie Collington
Cole Tapper, Max Brennan, Jack Frewin & Hamish Vass have won the 2025 Helly Hansen International, claiming the Joy Ride Perpetual Trophy for a second time over Jeffrey Petersen, Enzo Menditto, Spencer Kriestein, Justin Callahan, Mitchell Callahan from the United States of America.
Tapper and crew, representing the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia dominated the Finals Series, only dropping one race in the first to three point series after spinnaker problems saw them have to sail without one for half the race, as Petersen stormed passed in Race 2.
With another strong wind warning in place for Sydney enclosed waters for Friday 24 January, the Race Committee again made the right decision to shorten the semi-finals to a first to two point series, with Tapper and Petersen white washing each series 2 - 0 over Josh Hyde from New Zealand and Zac West from Australia / GBR respectively as winds reached 18 to 25 knots.
As the Finals stage began, Zac West was able to topple Josh Hyde in straight races, winning 2 - 0, after a boat breakage in Race 2 saw the New Zealand's retire.
As the Finals started, winds strengthened to 22 - 28 knots, with one wind recording of 30 knots during the series. The two finalist put up an amazing fight in the supplied Elliott 7m keelboats, with only a few boats lengths between the boats across the opening two races. Tapper opened the series well winning Race 1, before Petersen levelled the series in Race 2.
From here though the time and experience Tapper has in the Elliotts really showed, as the team handled the conditions near perfectly, winning the next two starts and sailing around the race course cleanly and faster than his American rival to win the Joy Ride Trophy and defend his title from 2022.
This was the first time since the CYCA has been able to host the event, after hosting the World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship in 2023, where both Tapper and Petersen competed, claiming a Silver and Bronze medal.
Last year the Club decided to move the event to January and increase the age eligibility to under 25. The change saw a great decision, with five nations competing, including Canada for the first time, confirming the event as Australia's premier match racing event and also being Australia's only World Sailing Grade 2 event.
Many competitors, including Tapper and Petersen now head across the country to Perth, Western Australia for yet another stellar competition, with the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club hosting the 2025 Warren Jones Regatta on the Swan River from Tuesday 27 to Friday 31 January.