Tapper wins third consecutive NSW Youth Match Racing Championship, whilst CYCA secures their 23rd title.
Cole Tapper, Jack Frewin, Chelsea Williams, Hamish Vass and Max Nicholson have once again defended their NSW Youth Match Racing Championship title from 2022 and 2023, taking out 12 of their 13 races, almost replicating their scorecard from last year.
The win also extended the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s winning streak at the event to an incredible 23 years. Since its inception in 2001, only two yacht Clubs have ever won the event with Hunter Academy of Sport’s entry helmed by Nathan Outteridge claiming the inaugural event.
Cole, along with crewmember Hamish Vass join a few small group of treble winners, joining Evan Walker, Jay Griffin, Ted Hackney and Seve Jarvin.
On Saturday, the eight teams vying for the Championship completed the round robin, with Tapper going undefeated with Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s Xavier McLachlan finishing in second, followed by CYCA’s Ben Crafoord and Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s Daniel Kemp qualifying for the semi-finals.
Sunday’s conditions were just as tricky as Saturday with an inconsistent westerly breeze making for a challenging day for all teams. In the first semi-final, regatta leader, Cole Tapper stumbled in Race 1 against Daniel Kemp. However, recovered well and went on to win the series 2 – 0.
In the other semi-final, penalties ultimately decided the series, with CYCA’s Ben Crafoord receiving three penalties across two races, and went down 0 – 2 to Xavier McLachlan.
The Petit-Finals saw Kemp finish on the podium in a deserving result for the skipper.
or the Finalists, a tricky racetrack left no room for errors however in a dominant display, Tapper was able to wrap up the series, and his third consecutive title 3 – 0 over McLachlan.
“There was some impressive sailing from the team, highlighting the intensive training they have been putting in at the club each weekend” noted Head Senior Instructor Niall Powers, of the RPAYC team skippered by Hugo Butterworth with Bayley Taylor, Joshua Paulson and Walter Tuite sailing into 5th place overall.
