The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s Youth Sailing Academy Advanced Squad gathered on Saturday 6 June for their first match racing regatta of the winter season in perfect conditions. The Bureau of Meteorology had forecast another day of rain and strong winds but sunshine met the squad for the first time for several weeks as they took to the start line on Sydney Harbour.
Ashlen Rooklyn and his team of Josh McKnight, Jack Hubbard and Angus Skorulis won the Navionics Match Racing Regatta for 2010, beating the higher ranked Jay Griffin and Will Mackenzie. Based on recent form, Griffin and Mackenzie were predicted to battle it out for the top two places but Rooklyn, even with his collection of penalties, sailed fast, protected his lead and covered his opponents to take wins in his first four races.
Going into Flight Five, the top three – Rooklyn, Mackenzie and Griffin, were tied on equal points having each won their first four matches. The race against Rooklyn and Mackenzie saw Rooklyn lead into the start and staying just ahead of Mackenzie around the course, eventually taking the race by two boat lengths and breaking the tie between the two. Griffin also won his match against Josie Roper, meaning that Rooklyn and Griffin were still locked in a tie.
Flight Six saw Griffin meet Rooklyn and it was Griffin who gave Rooklyn his first loss for the regatta. This would mean that Griffin would have to win the last race of the day against Mackenzie to take out the regatta. With a closely contested pre-start, both boats approached the start line and Griffin contacted Mackenzie in a port starboard incident which saw Griffin receive a penalty and a 0.5 point deduction for damage. Mackenzie went on to stay ahead of Griffin and win this final race. With Griffin’s damage deduction and Rooklyn having beaten Mackenzie, the top three placegetters were Rooklyn, Mackenzie, and Griffin.
The Navionics Regatta usually consists entirely of Advanced Squad teams, however seven sailors from the Development Match Racing Squad joined the regatta to advance their match racing skills and compete in their first YSA regatta. Regatta practice is vitally important for the development of the YSA squads and prepares the squad for the upcoming State and National competition.
Navionics, through Rear Commodore Garry Linacre has been a long time supporter of the Youth Sailing Academy and such sponsorships are important as it provides the Advanced Squad members the opportunity to put weeks of match racing training into practice. Post-regatta the squad reviews incidents, penalties and gains back to the classroom for refinement.
Thank you to Rob Armstrong, Chief Umpire and Steve Ward, Principal Race Officer and their teams, who dealt with penalties, protests and shifting conditions on the water; and managing to complete all matches in a very successful regatta.
Results:
1st Ashlen Rooklyn, Josh McKnight, Jack Hubbard, Angus Skorulis
2nd Will Mackenzie, Felix Grech, Andrea Green, Maclean Paton
3rd Jay Griffin, Ted Hackney, Will Parker
4th Ollie Hartas, Camilla Cedercreutz, Hamish Hardy, Sam Ellis
5th Henry Kernot, Karen Muller, Lucy Roper, Murray Jones
6th Tim Forbes-Smith, Nick Howe, Kurt Griffiths, Mitchell Burns
7th Keats Thomson, Prue Ward, Nat Greentree, Lucy Murray
8th Josie Roper, Tara McCall, Alex Paton, Brooke Smith
By Pam Scrivenor
