Issue date
Congratulations to James Wilson and Oscar Gunn (pictured above) of Murrays Bay Sailing Club for their 3rd place in the 29er Class at the Australian Youth Nationals held in Freemantle Perth.
This result follows on from their 5th place in the Australian 29er Nationals held the previous week at Jervois Bay about 10km down the coast from Freemantle.
A strong contingent of Kiwi sailors made the trip to Perth with a number of top ten results over the two regattas. Great to see the New Zealanders being able to foot it with the Australians in a fleet that comprised a number of their Youth representatives and the current World Champion skipper.
Wilson and Gunn showed consistency in the Youth Nationals in very challenging conditions with their worse place being a 5th.
The Australian Nationals were held in perfect Freemantle Doctor conditions with consistent breeze from 18 to 25 kts. Perfect skiff sailing weather. The Youth Nationals on the other hand the breeze did not eventuate and the contest was sailed in 5 to 10kts with the occasional puff to 15. Unpredictable shifts of up to 40 degrees made life hard for the competitors and the race committee. Well done to the Race Committee for getting all 10 races away with out too many delays.
Other results:
- Jackson Keon and Nick Egnot Johnson came away with a 7th in both regattas
- Leonard Takahashi-Fry crewing for Japanese 420 sailor Ibuki Koizumi sailed in the Australian Champs only and finished a very creditable 8th place
- Rory McCutcheon crewed for one of the top Australian 29er skippers in the Youth Nationals and finished 11th after one days sailing together
- Tom Fyfe and Josh Handa 22nd and 17th
- Kate Stewart and Abby Goodwin 24th and 21st
A big thank you to the teams at Jervois Sailing Club and Freemantle Sailing Club for two very well run regattas.
The New Zealand sailors are now back and having a short break before training starts for the New Zealand Nationals to be held at Murrays Bay Sailing Club in late March.
