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Josh Hyde and his Waitemata Racing team have continued their stellar 2024 campaign, adding this year's New Zealand Youth Match Racing Championship title to their growing list of accolades.
The young Aucklander, a product of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's Performance Programme, defeated Nelson Yacht Club’s Noah Malpot in the final over the weekend after dominating the round-robin stage with nine wins from 10 races.
Malpot, however, took the first win of the finals and claimed another victory in race four, pushing the contest to a sudden-death showdown.
The final start between Malpot and Hyde was tight, but Hyde managed to take an early lead at the first mark, gradually extending his advantage downwind to secure the title of New Zealand Youth Match Racing Champion.
Josh Hyde and the Waitemata Racing team of Mason Mulcahy, Zach Fong, Rowan Kensington and Sofia Higgot. Photos / Live Sail Die
This victory adds to Hyde's impressive wins at the Hardy Cup in February and the RNZYS Youth International Match Racing Cup in March.
It also secures Waitemata Racing — comprised of Hyde, Mason Mulcahy, Zach Fong, Rowan Kensington, and Sofia Higgot — a spot at the 2024 Youth Match Racing World Championship, hosted by Jeddah Yacht Club from November 29 to December 2.
The top three skippers have also earned entry into the 2024 New Zealand Match Racing Championships, to be sailed at the RNZYS from November 15-17, 2024.
Noah Malpot, Alissa Marshall, Jack Frewin, Ben Roff and Will Mason lost a close final. Photos / Live Sail Die
On Saturday and Sunday, eleven teams from Auckland, Wellington, and Nelson competed in the RNZYS’ new fleet of Elliott 7s, which was donated by Emirates Team New Zealand earlier this year. A total of 67 races were completed over the two days.
RNZYS performance coach Zak Merton was pleased with the competitiveness of the event.
"The closeness of the matches across the fleet really highlights the calibre of teams we have competing. It’s great to see the hard work these sailors are putting in paying off. I’m very excited for the season ahead," Merton said.
