The 30th Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship, hosted by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) in Pittwater, Australia, continues to deliver thrilling competition as Day 3 concluded with action-packed racing and standout performances from youth teams representing Australia and New Zealand.
Today’s conditions were near-perfect for sailing, with a steady 10-15 knot breeze from the east-northeast that enabled the race committee to efficiently complete Round Robin 2 by midday. Sailors pushed themselves and their boats to the limit, demonstrating exceptional skill and strategy to gain every possible edge in the highly competitive fleet.
By the end of Round Robin 2, the championship standings showed James Hayhoe at the top of the leaderboard, followed closely by Daniel Kemp, Hayden Smith, and Ethan Fong, who rounded out the top four positions. The remaining top eight positions were secured by Hugo Butterworth, Ben Crafoord, Charley Cates, and Thomas Rees, respectively. The day’s consistent conditions and high-caliber performances kept spectators on edge, setting the stage for an exciting final phase of the competition.
The semi-finals commenced midafternoon, featuring the top four competitors. In closely contested matchups, Fong and Kemp emerged victorious in their respective best-of-5 races. The winners will move up into the highly anticipated finals tomorrow.
As the racing concluded for the day with the display of AP over A, signalling no further races, all eyes turned to the upcoming AUS vs NZL battles in tomorrow’s finals. The trans-Tasman rivalry promises to deliver an electrifying finale to this prestigious youth sailing championship.
This event is proudly supported by HARKEN Australia, a longtime partner and advocate of youth sailing, and continues to showcase the rising stars of the sport.
Stay tuned for Day 4 as the 30th Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship reaches its thrilling conclusion!
For updates and more details, visit the official RPAYC event page.
