November the 23rd i flew to Australia With Fellow Youth Programme Sailors James Wilson (Skipper), Sam Barnett (Main Trim), Zak Merton (Trimmer). to compete in the Harken international youth Match Racing Champs at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Pittwater. It was a 4 Day Youth Grade 3 Event in the Elliot 7m.
we were going into the competition as about the 4th Highest ranked team so we knew if we worked hard we could place well.
Day 1 kicked of and we came out the blocks well winning all our races for the day. this was a great confidence boost as it was the first time we had lined up properly against anybody as a team before.
Day 2 kicked of with our first race against the other Kiwi Team Pacific Racing Skippered by Leonard Takahashi with a crew from the RNZYS Performance Programme. This was probably Our Closest Race of the Round Robin series which unfortunately we lost. the day carried on well winning all but our last race after that against Sarah Parker of the Home Team RPAYC.
We finished qualifying in 3rd Place which Meant we got to pick our Quarter Finals Opposition. We Chose to take on Porter Killian Of the Balboa Yacht Club in Newport Beach California. after three tough races we managed to win this 3-0 Pushing us through to the Semis Still having only lost 2 races in the Event.
the Semi finals were tough. we were up against CYCA Skipper Finn Tapper we lost the first Race but fortunately Regrouped and won the Semis 3-1.
it was an awesome feeling knowing we made the finals but one thing that made it even better was being in the final against Fellow RNZYS Team Off pacific Racing (Leonor Takahashi. The mind games began in the Team house and with both teams Sleeping in one big room together made it quite a fun time. the Trash talk was flowing and banter was coming out hard.
The day f the Finals the Breeze Picked up slightly more Favouring Leonords team as they were the heaviest. we knew if we worked hard we had a good chance of beating them but it was going to be a fight. we started the finals well putting a penalty on Leonord and managing to stay ahead to take the first race win. the next race again was super close but leonord got us in the last down wind. from then on they did an awesome job of getting ahead and sailing well.
After the finals being 4 races we lost to Leonord 3-1 Taking home 2nd Pace in the event. we were still super stoked with the result but also really happy it was our team mates that took the win.
Thanks Go out to the RNZYS and Youth programme, Harken for Sponsoring the Regatta, Mic And Sally For hostile both the Teams all the other teams, The RPAYC for hosting the Event, Reuben Corbett our Team Coach. and Leonor and Team Pacific Racing for an awesome final and good training back home.
Pictures from finals
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