ROYAL SYDNEY YACHT SQUADRON THE WINNERS!

by Sailsportz on 27 Nov 2000 The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron crew of Michael Dunstan, Peter Salt and Andrew Hutchinson have won the 2000 Harken International Youth Match Race Regatta, defeating early favourites, the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, 2-0 today in a sparkling 15 knot sea breeze. The Cruising Yacht Club similarly claimed 3rd place from host Club, Royal Prince Alfred. Dunstans team were runners up in New Zealand's Coke Cup earlier this year and showed this pedigree clearly.

As top qualifier from the earlier rounds, Dunstan elected to race RPAYC in the semis leaving the up and coming RQYS crew to face the very experienced crew from CYCA. This initially appeared to be a bad move as RPAYC put on a spirited display of match racing to take the first semis match comfortably. In the 2nd match, RPAYC got themselves tied up in the port end spectator fleet and trailed RSYS back to the line on port and did not recover. Meanwhile RQYS had displaced CYCA 2-0 as the breeze started to build from 8kts to about 12kts.

In the remaining semi decider, RPAYC's Zac Seymour threw an aggressive lee bow under Dunstan who on final starboard approach was forced over the start line prematurely and had to return as his opponent motored away in 15kts of breeze. Dunstan came back however, and played the top mark approach beautifully to regain the lead and move through into the final round against the RQYS team of Mathew and David Chew and Andrew Schmidt.

The breeze increased to a good 15kts for the finals and the experience of Dunstans crew became evident as they walked away with the first final match by 1 minute. In the 2nd match Chew planed his Elliott 5.9 down the first run into the lead, only to lose it and the title as Dunstans boat handling again proved more polished in the tacking duels upwind.

Competitors gave a big thumbs up to the event which was a credit to the Royal Prince Alfred Club's race management team who conducted 146 matches during the Regatta, the race boats (and umpires) clocking up some 350 nautical miles! All this in sunny conditions and with negligible delay due to breakdowns or wind problems.

Final Placings:

1 Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron
2 Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron
3 Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
4 Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
5 Gold Coast Yacht Club
6 Royal Yachting Association
7 Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
8 Royal Perth Yacht Club
9 Mission Bay Yacht Club
10 Fukuoka Yacht Club
11 Circolo Della Vella Erix
12 Bucklands Beach Yacht Club