Twelve teams representing CYCA, RSYS & RPAYC will take flight on Friday in the newly developed Harken Open Championship taking place at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club 20-22 November, 2020.

Formalities see teams complete weigh-in early Friday morning ahead of a 0930hrs briefing where the teams will hit the water to battle it out for bragging rights and the all important trophies for Harken Open Champion, Harken Youth Champion and Harken Female Champion for 2020. 

The first two days will consist of a fleet racing qualifier series to determine the top four teams who will go into Sunday’s Match Racing finals to determine the Harken Open Championship Winner. The 5th-12th placed teams from the Fleet Racing series will sail off to determine final placings. 

Sailing Manager Brendan Rourke commented “We hope to make the Harken Open Championship an annual event in the sailing calendar in the future. Our traditional Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship will be back in 2021, so pencil in the dates 17 – 21 November, 2021. Harken have been very supportive of the change and we are pleased to have them as the naming sponsor of the inaugural event for this year”.

The question is who is the favourite team going into this new style of event? Will it be the winner of the Sailing Champions League in 2019 – David Chapman? Will it be the 2016 Australian Youth Match Racing World Champion – Will Dargaville? Will it be the winner of the 2019 David Lukins Memorial Match Race – Nick Garland & team representing event sponsor Harken? Last but not least could it be the 3-time winner of the David Lukins Memorial Match Race and winner of the 2008 Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship – Tommy Spithill? 

Time will tell who the champions will be… stay tuned via the link below or even better come out on the water and support the teams. 

For full details on the crew list, schedule, NOR & SI’s go to https://www.rpayc.com.au/sailing/yacht-racing/regatta-and-championships