Youth Match Racing Champs Underway in Australia

Newport, New South Wales (November 17, 2016) – Sunny skies and steady sea breezes have welcomed the 12 international teams for the start of the 2016 HARKEN International Youth Match Racing Championship on Pittwater.

With the wind strengthening from the east to northeast throughout the day it showed the new comers what they were up against sailing in Pittwater’s shifty conditions.

Matthew Hughes from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron coming into his first HARKEN as a skipper has shined on the first day finishing the day with six wins from seven races.

Local sailor and HARKEN veteran, Malcolm Parker from The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club showed off his local knowledge and experience in the first day with five wins from six races having lost one race to George Anyon from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

“It was good out there today, it’s was pretty standard Pittwater conditions today so we felt comfortable and it was good to get the wins.” Said Malcolm Parker.

Anyon also showed off his knowledge of Pittwater with an equal scorecard to Parker with five wins from six races with an upset loss to Sarah Parker. Sarah, Malcolm’s sister skippers the only all girl team of the event and really stepped it up against the highest ranked skipper.

The Darwin team skippered by John Lynch couldn’t stack up a win during the day but sailed some strong races. Tom Vincent, a crew member on the team was happy with how the day progressed.

“It was a long day today but I think the team are starting to figure out the boats. We haven’t done much match racing or sailed Elliot 7s before but after today’s efforts I think we’ll be better tomorrow.” Said Tom Vincent.

Sitting on 100% with four from four is Will Boulden from the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club who handled the conditions very well but will need to continue his consistency going into the second day of racing.

The forecast for day two of racing is looking like a much warmer day with a high of 32° C with testing winds from the west.

Event details – Scoreboard

Background: The 24th HARKEN International Youth Match Racing Championship is scheduled on November 17 to 20, with racing hosted by Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Newport, New South Wales. For the first time, a prize purse of $2000 is at stake for the 12 teams from the United States of America, Netherlands, New Zealand and Australia.

Confirmed skippers are:
• RNZYS – Auckland, NZ– George Anyon – 32
• RFBYC – Perth, AUSTRALIA– Will Boulden – 46
• DFYC – NETHERLANDS – Jelmer van Beek – 82
• RPAYC – Sydney, AUSTRALIA – Malcolm Parker – 90
• RNZYS – Auckland, NZ – Mathew Hughes – 130
• RPNYC – Wellington, NZ – Will Eastman – 154
• CYCA – Sydney, AUSTRALIA – Tom Grimes – 180
• RPNYC – Wellington, NZ – Oakley Marsh – 192
• RPAYC – Sydney, AUSTRALIA – Sarah Parker – 197
• BYC – California, USA – Porter Killian – 316
• RSYS – Sydney, AUSTRALIA – Nicholas Rozenauers – 419
• DWS – Darwin, AUSTRALIA – John Lynch – NR

Source: RPAYC