Tied at Top of Nespresso Youth International Match Racing Cup

Auckland, NZL (February 25, 2016) – Nespresso Youth International Match Racing Cup got underway today at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in light conditions. The top youth match racing teams from Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia are competing for the most prestigious youth match racing cup in New Zealand.

After 4 flights the top position is split 3 ways between Royal Price Alfred Yacht Club’s William Dargaville, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s George Anyon and defending club Cruising Yacht Club of Australia skipper Murray Jones.

Dargaville, with his team of Everlyn Foster, Harry Hall, James Faquharson and Rachel Bower had a good day in “tricky conditions”. Dargaville said his team spent much of today “ working of their boat skills” but this hasn’t showed in the results and they are looking forward to “facing the other two top teams tomorrow”.

Local RNZYS Youth Training Programme sailor George Ayon with his crew of Logan Andreson, Josh Wijohn & Patrick Haybittle had some “solid pre-starts” and are looking “forward to some better conditions tomorrow.”

Other RNZYS YTP skippers Stephanie Kirkman and Matthew Hughes have had a slow start to the regatta but are looking to show their local knowledge in tomorrow’s racing.

Also sitting undefeated after 4 flights is defending club skipper Murray Jones, Jones was on board with last year’s winning skipper Harry Price, and is hoping to bring the cup back to CYCA with his name on it.

Wellington Skipper Will Eastman from RPNYC, is currently siting on 3 wins and only 1 loss to Murray Jones, and is also looking forward to having more success tomorrow.

Both Cercle Nautique Caledonien skippers, Cyril Fortin and Tom Picot, have had a solid start to the regatta both posting two wins and two losses on the board.

Race officer Gerald Flynn commented on the day’s conditions, “After a late start we chased the wind over to big shoal bay, where we managed to get 3 flights completed. When the tide came out we headed up under the harbour bridge and got one more flight in before retiring early for the day”. Flynn and his team are looking to knock off the rest of the Round Robbin tomorrow, with more wind predicted for the finals this weekend.

The 2016 Nespresso Youth international Cup, the most prestigious youth match racing cup in New Zealand, is raced at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Elliott 7 keelboats on February 25-28. Teams from three different countries and six yacht clubs are competing in the Auckland Harbour.

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Report by Georgia Derrick, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.