Musto International Youth Match Racing Championship - Preview

RNZYS won the 2014 Musto International with George Brasell, Logan Andresen, Connor Mashlan and Josh Wi John © David Brogan / www.sailpix.com.au

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron are back at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia this week to defend the MUSTO International Youth Match Racing Championship.

In 2014 the RNZYS entered two teams with George Brasell skippering his team to victory over the Harry Price led CYCA team who won the Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship on the weekend at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.

The boys from New Zealand led by Lucas Chatonnier and Leonard Fry are eager to retain the prestigious title with Chatonnier, who recently finished second at the New Caledonia Match Racing Championship, ready for the challenge.

"I have sailed against most of the guys and girls who will be competing and I know the level of sailing will be high," Chatonnier said.

"It is my second year helming in the program, the same as Leonard, so we have had a lot of time to train together. We will have some night sessions together before the event with our teams which will be beneficial."

From across the ditch to across the Nullarbor, Lachy Gilmour will lead Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club in his first appearance at the MUSTO event.

"This will be our first time competing at the CYCA as a team and for me as an individual, so it will be a whole new place to sail," Gilmour said.

"We have been training hard against some of the world's top match racers here is Perth so I think our preparation has been right up there. This will be our first time competing in the Elliott 7s but I believe with the help of our coach, Peter Gilmour, we will be up to speed with the locals in no time.

"It will be a tough event and we narrowly lost to Harry Price and his CYCA team over in California at Governors Cup, so we will be looking for some revenge there. We are really looking forward to travelling over to Sydney to compete."

Among other entrants Will Eastman and Oakley Marsh will lead teams from the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club (Wellington, NZ); Zac Pullen will represent the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania; Will Boulden is representing the University of Western Australia; Cercle Nautique Caledonia (Noumea) will be led by Tom Picot; the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club will be led by Malcolm Parker and James Hodgson skippering a team from the Sunshine Coast Sailing Team The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia will enter two teams led by Harry Price and Emma May. The 2015 MUSTO International Youth Match Racing Championship will commence at the CYCA on Tuesday 24 November and run through the week with finals to be sailed on Friday 27 November.

Match Racing results will be available online here.

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