Media Release Day 2 - Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship

Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship
Pittwater, Sydney, Australia
Day 2 Media Release

Day 2 of the 2025 Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship unfolded under a moody Pittwater sky, with rain and a firm southerly breeze shaping another day of match-racing.

Despite the challenging conditions, teams demonstrated impressive adaptability, keeping the pressure high as Round Robin 1 concluded and Round Robin 2 commenced.

Race Officer Ted Anderson noted the evolving weather pattern:
“Today will be very similar to yesterday with a strong southerly, then tomorrow it looks like it’s going to go a little bit more east and slow. Then Sunday, It’s not ideal but that’s what the weather does.”

The wet start did little to dampen competitive spirit. The morning flights delivered tight crosses, aggressive starts, and an increasing emphasis on boat handling as visibility and grip varied through passing showers.

Club Commodore, Robert McClelland, praised the increasingly impressive performances emerging from newer competitors:
“Every time you go sailing, you can’t control the weather, so you just use it to your advantage. There are some very good new teams here, and what we’re hearing is that the new guys are doing better than the older guys.”

The strength of the New Zealand contingent has become one of the standout narratives of the regatta. Coach Zak Merton echoed this momentum:
“I’m pretty happy with how the Kiwis are going so far. We have four teams here so my work’s been cut out for me. It’s a lot to keep track of but I’m happy their speed and boat handling is good, they just need to clean up the decision-making and I think we’re in for a good shot. Two of our boats are in first and second on the leaderboard, (currently) we’ve got another one in about fifth thats climbing rapidly, and then Zach Fong — it’s his first time on the stick. He’s part of the best youth match racing team in the world (Waitematā Racing) and his improvement rate is already rapid.”

Round Robin 2 produced some tightly contested matches across all flights, with several standout performances from the Fong brothers. Ethan Fong (RNZYS) secured a thrilling win over Robbie Wooldridge (RNZYS) in F14 M1, managing to recover and clear a penalty just before the finish to take the match. Zach Fong (RNZYS) also impressed in F16 M4, narrowly defeating his brother Ethan after a close battle, showing strong tactics and speed through the shifts. Harriett McLachlan (RSYS) continued her winning form with upsetting victories over Daniel Kemp (RPAYC) and Ben Crafoord (CYCA), demonstrating consistency and smart course management. Meanwhile, Daniel Kemp held off Mia Lovelady in F18 M4, maintaining control despite late pressure from his opponent.

Other races saw equally competitive results, with Robbie Wooldridge, Samuel Scott, Louis Tilly, and Ethan Fong all taking key wins for their teams. Wooldridge maintained strong leads in several matches, including holding off Z Fong in F15 M2, while Scott and Tilly executed precise mark roundings and tactical upwind strategies to secure narrow victories. The racing was fast-paced, with many lead changes at the marks and impressive comebacks, reflecting the high skill level across the fleet. Overall, Round Robin 2 reinforced the intensity of the regatta, highlighting both emerging talent and experienced sailors making tactical calls in the 12–14 knot southerly breeze on Pittwater.

Round Robin 2 will wrap up tomorrow, Saturday, giving sailors one more day to battle for positions and secure their spot in the semifinals. With the leaderboard still shaping up, every race will be crucial, and weather permitting, the top teams will move straight into the knockout rounds. Fans and competitors can look forward to another day of tight, tactical racing on Pittwater as the regatta builds toward an exciting finish on the Sunday.