Racing at the New South Wales Youth Championships © Robin Evans
Alec Brodie/Xavier Winston-Smith (AUS) © Robin Evans
Racing at the New South Wales Youth Championships © Robin Evans
Racing at the New South Wales Youth Championships © Robin Evans
Racing at the New South Wales Youth Championships © Robin Evans
Close 420 Battles at Australia's New South Wales Youth Championships
Botany Bay saved its best for the finale. A glorious spring day and perfect breeze capped off the deciding three races of the annual Yachting NSW Youth Championships, a mass gathering of sailing’s next generation run over the October long weekend out of Georges River 16’ Sailing Club.
More than 300 sailors participated in the annual event, held over the weekend 4-6 October 2014, making it one of the largest youth regattas in Australia and interstate support for the New South Wales titles is on the rise. Alongside the 420 fleet, there was racing for the Optimist, Laser 4.7, Laser Radial, Flying 11 and 29er.
Four races on day 1, one race on day 2 and three on day 3 gave an intensive series of racing for the eighteen teams competing in the 420 fleet on Botany Bay, just south of Sydney in Australia. Aside from Sunday’s millpond day, conditions were excellent, with a breeze never getting more than 15 knots, warm, dry with minimal chop and a clear race track.
Saturday’s four races had established an early pecking order in the 420 leaderboard, and with just one race held on Sunday due to no wind, the pressure was on for Monday’s final day to deliver a comprehensive race programme. Finals day began leisurely with crews again kept ashore under postponement as the overnight southerly change blew out and the breeze transitioned to the ENE at 10-15 knots. Wind shifts of 40 degrees had the race officers working up a sweat shifting marks to set the fairest course as the teams battled for final precious points.
The top three teams going into the final day had just a few points between them, with all still to play for. Results for the 420 class were the last to be confirmed due to a backlog of protests being heard by the jury on the final afternoon. Nicholas Sharman/James Grogan waited patiently until they could finally celebrate their 4 point win over Finn Gilbert/Louie Collins with Alec Brodie/Xavier Winston-Smith in third.
Top girls team were Sophie McIntosh/Emily Summerell who finished fourth overall, just 5 points off the podium.
Click on ALL EVENT INFORMATION in the link above to find final results and all information about this event.
