Warren Jones International Youth Regatta at Perth - Day 3
by Jonny Fullerton 31 Jan 2018 15:59 GMT
29 Jan - 2 Feb 2018
Day 3 – Melee. Price, Hodgson and Costanza – Warren Jones International Youth Regatta © Rick Steuart
A really tough day for Race Management on day three of the Warren Jones International Youth Regatta with shifting light winds all day on Perth Waters.
PRO Kim Laurence and his team were fully tested as the faint breeze flicked around from East to South and back playing havoc with course setting. This coupled with high and low tides due to the new full moon provided a new test for the 12 teams.
The crews have been bashed by two days of medium to strong breezes which be-nefitted the bigger stronger teams however the lighter crew combinations added a new dynamic to racing today. A number of teams have mixed male / female crews and two teams have very young tacticians learning from the best of youth skippers.
Will Boulden and his Alpha Racing Team from Royal Freshwater Bay YC continues to tick off the wins in round two with 14 year old Will Drew riding as after-guard. The two Will's stand at four wins and no losses in round two.
Jelmer van Beek and Team Dutch Wave have Arienne van de Loosdrecht working the pit and 13 year old Jared Clark on the back of the boat. Jelmer's team won all three matches raced today to be in the mix for a semi-final spot.
Harry Price and his Down Under Racing team from Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Sydney continue to add to his win tally today with a very experienced match racing crew. His four from four races means he is breathing down the neck of Will Boulden at the top of the leaderboard.
Nick Egnot-Johnson, one of the teams from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Performance Programme, has a team of teenagers onboard including Charlotte Porter on trim. Nick's team have progressed in round two with three more wins on the board.
Also improving in the lighter airs is female skipper Clare Costanzo and her Royal Prince Alfred YC team including Jessica Angus as floater. Clare's team took two scalps in James Wilson and Conor Nicholas today.
James Hodgson who comes from Mooloolaba in Queensland but sails with the CYCA Youth Sailing Academy, holds a 57% win rate in round two leaving him in contention for a semi-final position. James won a real classic match race against Conor Nicholas and his South of Perth YC team in a real nail bitter in the soft conditions.
Sailors and volunteers then retired to the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club for a BBQ and watch the full blood, blue moon set over the City of Perth skyline, whilst the event sponsors and other iconic Perth businesses took to the Perth Waters to battle it out for the title of the 2018 Corporate Cup, which was won by the boat sponsored by Spices Catering.
Round Robin 2 matches continue on Thursday with a start time of 1230hrs (local time).
Full Standings: swanriversailing.com/warrenjonesregatta-results
Facebook page: facebook.com/WarrenJonesRegatta