The HARKEN International Youth Match Racing Championship is the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s (RPAYC) most prestigious youth sailing event, which brings together talented youth sailors from around the world, for 4 days of hotly contested Match Racing. The event provides a platform for aspiring sailors to showcase their skills and engage in a high-level competition. Competitors started arriving at RPAYC on Monday 4 December to partake in on water practice sessions followed by the Official Event Welcome.

Racing commenced Tuesday and is running through until Friday 8 December on Pittwater, NSW. 

At the end of the first day of racing, with 9 flights completed, RPAYC’s team of Daniel Kemp (skipper), Isabella Holdsworth, William Hough, Lachlan Wallace and Charlie Verity were top of the leaderboard. The teams from Rutland Sailing Club (Great Britain) and Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (AUS) were in joint 2nd place with the rest of the competition spread out among the remaining places. 

Experienced Race Officer, Ted Anderson, commended sailors for their conduct during the first day of competition, “The Crews have excelled and are really well behaved, both on and off the water, which made Race Management that much easier for our team”. 

Leading into day 2, the course was set at the top of Morning Bay, and the afternoon continued to pump a Southerly down Pittwater, that had the start of racing in 14knts before dropping slightly by midday, averaging 9-11knts. 

The southerly tested boat handling skills, especially with kites hoisted when screaming in to round the gate marks, with some teams using their spinnakers as sea drogues. 

Round Robin 1 finished with 4 teams on 7 wins heading into Round Robin 2. At the close of racing Ben Tylecote from Rutland Sailing Club, UK, was the stand out leader. Tylecote and his crew achieved 12 wins from 14 matches.

Round Robin 2 will be wrapped up tomorrow, with top four Skippers hoping to qualify for the Stage 3-Semi Finals. 

With a rich sailing history and stunning natural beauty, Pittwater has served as the perfect backdrop for the first 2 days of racing in the 2023 HARKEN International Youth Match Racing Championship. The competition has seen some of the world's most promising young sailors go head-to-head, pushing the boundaries of their abilities as they compete for glory. "We are thrilled with how the racing has been these past couple of days on Pittwater," said Nick Elliott, Race Director. "This event not only provides a forum for young sailors to showcase their skills but also serves as a stepping stone for their future in the sailing world." 

The HARKEN Youth Match Racing on Pittwater is not only a platform to foster and nurture young talent in sailing but also an opportunity to uphold the spirit of healthy competition. The event encourages camaraderie and sportsmanship among the participants.

There promises to be plenty more high octane, adrenalin charged competition across the final 2 days of the 2023 HARKEN International Youth Match Racing Championship. Visit the website to view the full line up of teams and umpires:www.intyouthmatchracingchampionship.com

Follow the regatta on social media: 

• https://www.facebook.com/royalprincealfredyachtclub/
• https://www.instagram.com/rpayc/