Three of Yachting Australia’s premier events are to be contested in the coming month: the Australian Women’s Match Racing Championship, the Australian Team Racing Championship and the Australian Youth Match Racing Championship.
The Women’s Match Racing event will be held from the 11-14 September on the waters of the Derwent River. Hosted by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, and sailed in Elliot 5.9’s, this event is sure to be a nail biter with some extremely close competition expected. Defending champion Katie Spithill (NSW) will be challenging her nearest match racing rival in recent times, Nicky Souter (NSW) for the title. Other top quality teams from Tasmania (Clare Brown’s and Lisa Blackwood’s teams) and Western Australia (headed by Jodi Earnshaw) will be present in an attempt to make their marks on the championship cup. The best vantage points for this great spectator friendly regatta will be from both Blinking Billy and Battery Points.
The Australian Team Racing Championship will be contested at the Docklands in Melbourne. This championship is usually won not only based on superb boat-handling, but also is a true test of tactical skills and teamwork. Pacers are the class being used for the event. Teams from Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania will compete a number of short races over three days (beginning 19 September) to fight for the title.
The Youth Match Racing nationals are being hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia from the 3-5 October. The new Elliot 6’s will be used for this event, which will be sailed on Sydney Harbour. Youth Match Racing is becoming an increasingly competitive discipline, and the event will be a great display of our nations youth talent.
Notices of Race, Sailing Instructions, results, reports and photos from all three events will be posted on the Yachting Australia website in the Events over the coming weeks.