Written by Nicole Butcher
The first round of the Manly Junior State Championships kicked off in spectacular fashion last weekend at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. Competitors, volunteers, and support crews were treated to perfect conditions, with a sunny northeast seabreeze setting the stage for some thrilling racing. A total of 30 boats contested Open and Novice Divisions, showcasing the skill and enthusiasm of junior sailors from clubs across the region.
Open Division
The Open Division was fiercely competitive, with standout performances across the fleet. The scratch pointscore lead is held by Baden and Hunter Thomas of Manly 16s Skiff Club, who dominated with an impressive four first-place finishes. On handicap, Thomas Kane and Jack Hunter from Middle Harbour 16s are leading the pointscore, while RPAYC crews made their mark with strong results. Lara Dorling and Mia Holland secured second place, bolstered by two handicap race wins, and Lucie Howell and Griffin Flint demonstrated consistent sailing to take third place. RPAYC was also proudly represented by Charlie Antill and Angus Clark, whose efforts added to the club’s strong presence in this year’s Open Division.
Novice Division
The Novice Division saw equally exciting racing, with Sienna Logan and Hamish Cameron of Manly 16s taking the scratch win. RPAYC sailors Liv Dorling and Frankie Wray opened the series in style by winning Race 1, a fantastic achievement in a competitive fleet, and are looking strong in the point score with two third place results on handicap.
Growing RPAYC’s Manly Junior Fleet
The championships also mark an exciting time for RPAYC’s Manly Junior program, which has grown significantly over the past year. The club now boasts six Manly Junior boats in training, up from just one in 2023, reflecting the growing enthusiasm for junior sailing at RPAYC. There are opportunities for crew, skippers and full teams to join in the fun, so please get in touch if you know anyone that’s interested.
Community Spirit and Gratitude
The weekend highlighted the camaraderie and passion within our junior sailing community. The support of the Manly Junior association, volunteers, and family members played a crucial role in the event’s success, ensuring a memorable experience both on and off the water.
Of the event, RPAYC Commodore and Youth Sailing advocate Robert McClelland commented, “The action was non-stop, with 22 Open Fleet boats and eight Green Fleet boats, and the energy was contagious. Even better, our club now has six Manly Juniors—a big leap from just one last year. It’s great to see so much energy around this class and our junior sailors stepping up.
I got out on the water on Sunday to watch the final race and take a few photos. The vibe was electric—plenty of chatter and laughs between skippers and crews as they lined up for the start. It’s a totally different dynamic from single-handed boats, and it was great to see the teamwork and fun in action. The starts were fiercely contested, and all boats had an epic race, swapping positions multiple times around the course.
After all the excitement on the water, we wrapped things up with a fun presentation on the Halyards lawn for the presentation. The sun was shining, the kids were smiling, and you could feel the pride in the air. It was a great way to finish the weekend.
A huge thank you to Rear Commodore Centreboard, Mark Dorling, for his outstanding effort in bringing it all together so seamlessly. Hosting 30 boats and welcoming 60 families is no small feat, but Mark, Adam, the volunteers, and the entire RPAYC team made it look effortless. Events like this showcase what makes RPAYC such a special community—and the future of junior sailing here has never looked brighter!”
Congratulations to all sailors for their outstanding efforts in Round 1! We look forward to more action-packed racing as the series continues early next year with four more races to be sailed at Middle Harbour. Keep training hard and chasing those podium finishes! Stay tuned for updates as we gear up for the Nationals in December which will be hosted by BYRA. If there are members interested in starting sailing a Manly Junior or volunteering for events or club racing, please get in touch with the sailing office or Rear Commodore Centreboard rc.centreboard@rpayc.com.au
