CONGRATULATIONS to our Youth Development team of Daniel Kemp (skipper), Belle Holdsworth, Charlie Verity, Hayley Fisher, and Lachie Wallace, as well as coach Rob Brewer, who have this week returned to Sydney after competing in the back-to-back World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship and the 2025 Governor’s Cup.
The following report on the two regattas, assigned World Sailing ‘Grade W’ and ‘Grade 2’ status respectively, has been authored by Kemp on behalf of the team:
In April, we received news from Australian Sailing that our team had been selected to be the nation’s representative team at the upcoming world championship in Gdynia, Poland, from 21 to 27 July. The same month we received an invitation to compete again at the 58th Governor’s Cup in Newport Beach, CA, which had been scheduled for the following week, from 29 July to 3 August.
Immediately, we knew that the back-to-back regattas would be testing – where the worlds were to be sailed in RS21 sport boats, which are sailed ‘five up’, the Governors Cup is sailed in custom-built ‘Governor’s Cup 22’ boats, which are sailed with three sailors. There was also only one day to travel from Gdynia to Newport Beach which, on reflection, could not have been more different locations.
Under the guidance of our coach, Rob Brewer, the team structured its training through the club’s Youth Development program, as well as training regularly alongside RPAYC’s open women’s match racing team, helmed by Juliet Costanzo.
The team arrived in Gdynia on 20 July and had two practice days to familiarise ourselves on the RS21s. We were also able to meet the other teams at the opening ceremony on 22 July, hosted by the organising authority, Gdynia Sailing Days. There were 16 teams present, from 12 nations, with multiple teams from USA, GBR, and FRA.
The team had an ideal start to the event, striding out with a 4-2 record on the first day of racing, with losses only against team Canada and team Poland. However, the second day of racing was not as ideal – early losses against the two French teams, who demonstrated experienced boat handling in the RS21s, put us in a tricky position leading into the final day of qualifying racing. On the final day, and in an effort to bridge the gap from our second day, the team pushed the boundaries too far, earning several prestart penalties and a Rule 42 penalty which unfortunately put us out of contention for the hard fought quarter-final berths. From there on, we were able to watch the entertaining racing in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Our sincere congratulations to the French team steered by Marin Micoulot who won the event, showing outstanding discipline in the light and shifty Gdynia conditions.
On 28 July, Charlie, Lachie, Rob, and I travelled to Newport Beach for our second event. Still somewhat jet-lagged but excited to get sailing, the team had the benefit of a practice day on 29 July in sunny Southern Californian conditions. That night, the team attended the customary ‘opening night roast’ hosted by Balboa Yacht Club and MC’d by GovCup Steering Committee Chair, Andy Rose, which featured some “interesting” and humorous commentary to the teams.
Over the first two days of Round Robin racing, our focus during our training on the world championship came to light, with the team struggling to find speed in the light breeze and adjust to Sailing ‘three up’. Despite this, we found our form by the final days of round robin racing, putting the runs on the board to finish 9th overall in some very tight racing. Again, our congratulations to the No. 1 ranked CYCA team of Cole Tapper, Jack Frewin, and Hamish Vass, who won the finals series.
The team would also like to extend a very big thank you to Dave and Julie Hirz, our wonderful hosts in Newport Beach, who had us at their home for the second consecutive year.
As the team returns to Sydney, we are excited to take our learnings from these two events as we prepare for the upcoming Australian summer where we will look to defend our title at RPAYC’s home event, the Harken International Youth Championship.
As always, our thanks to the RPAYC and the Youth Development Program for all the support. Our thanks also to Australian Sailing for our entry at the Youth Worlds.