Last week, two of our RPAYC Youth Development teams competed at this year’s edition of the Hardy Cup International Youth Match Racing Regatta, hosted by the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. 10 teams competed in the regatta from 3 nations and 6 different clubs.
The regatta saw a wide range of conditions, with the first day of racing presenting teams with a light and shifty southerly breeze. The second and third days then challenged teams to the limits of their boat handling skills, with a strong southerly buster delivering wind speeds up to 35 knots.
Our Youth Development team of Daniel Kemp (skipper), Isabella Holdsworth, Charlie Verity, Lachie Wallace, and Louis Tilly gained momentum throughout the regatta after an arduous start on the first day. The team excelled in the big breeze later on in the competition, securing a place in the semi finals at the end of the third day of racing. Unfortunately, the team came out 4th of the semi finalists after a three-way tie for second place countback didn’t fall their way. This meant that they had to race the in-form RNZYS team with Josh Hyde steering in the semi-finals.
Despite our team giving it their all, Hyde and his team advanced to the finals, eventually going on to win the regatta. Our RPAYC team then came back strong to defeat the RSYS team 2-0 in the petite finals to secure third place, marking back-to-back podium finishes in Grade 3 competitions for Kemp’s team as they look to continue this momentum heading into the RNZYS Youth International held in Auckland next month.
Congratulations also to our RPAYC team of Hugo Butterworth (skipper), Bayley Taylor, Walter Tuite, Josh Paulson, and Annabelle Sampson, who demonstrated a tenacious attitude on the final day of the regatta, finishing 8th place overall. We wish the best to this team as they travel later this month to France to compete in a Grade 2 open regatta.
Photos by Darcie Collington 
