Issue date
Nick Egnot-Johnson will be looking to go one better when the Harken 2020 Youth Match Racing World Championships get under way at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Auckland tomorrow.
Egnot-Johnson, who is presently second on the world match racing rankings, finished second at last year's youth world championships in Russia and will go in as one of the favourites when racing starts tomorrow.
He's enjoyed a decent start to the year, with two second place finishes in Australia and a third at last week’s Harken Youth International, but has a different crew than his normal lineup. He will be joined this week by Alastair Gifford, Niall Malone and Jon Barnett.
“The last event in Russia was frustrating because the wind completely died on the last two days and we didn’t get a proper shot to win it, so we are pretty keen to give it our all this week," Egnot-Johnson said. "Sailing for a world championship at home, it doesn’t get any better than that.
"We are just going to enjoy the week and relish the occasion as much as we can and see what happens.”
There will be some stiff competition in the 12-boat fleet, not least of all from James Hodgson (ranked 19th) and his Australian crew from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. Hodgson made a big statement last week when he won the 2020 Harken Youth International, brushing aside locals Egnot-Johnson and Jordan Stevenson in the semifinals and final respectively.
“Last week was really good preparation for the worlds," Hodgson said. "We just went out there to have fun and focus on enjoying ourselves and learn as much as we could before this week. We were really stoked to get the win but doing well this week is much more important.”
Finn Tapper (26th) leads the second Australian team, also from the CYCA. Tapper has experience racing in Auckland, even though he didn’t race last week, and also has reigning youth match racing world champion Tom Grimes on board with him.
Stevenson (10th) and his Vento Racing team have shot up the rankings in the last year after success abroad, which included victory at the US Match Race Grand Slam and Musto Youth International.
“That was a bit of a wake-up call to be honest, but sometimes you need that to learn and push yourself harder next time," Stevenson said after his defeat in last week's final. "It’s come at a good time because we will take that home and analyse it and be ready to go for the worlds next week.”
There's plenty of international flavour in the field, with two teams from the United States, five from Europe and one from South Africa.
The teams will race in the Squadron's Elliott 7s and racing will consist of a round robin and repecharge before the quarter-finals.
Live results will be available via www.matchracingresults.com
Teams competing in the Harken 2020 Youth Match Racing World Championships:
Nick Egnot-Johnson (NZL - ranked 2nd)
Jordan Stevenson (NZL - 10)
Aurélein Pierroz (FRA - 17)
James Hodgson (AUS - 19)
Emil Kjaer (DEN - 24)
Jack Parkin (USA - 25)
Finn Tapper (AUS - 26)
David Wood (USA - 48)
Ted Blowers (GBR - 61)
Ludovic Mori (ITA - 129)
Marius Westerlind (SWE - 227)
Sonja Stock (RSA)
