Sailing Champions League Asia Pacific
RPAYC Youth Representative Team known as Goldfish Racing have had a massive couple of weeks of racing and travel across the world. Straight off the plane from racing in Antibes, France as part of the Trophee Lionell Van Der Houwen, a Grade 2 Match racing event, then they headed back home to compete in to the Sailing Champions League Asia Pacific Finals in Adelaide hosted by CYCSA.
The Adelaide heat and wind conditions added an extra challenge, with day 2 being cancelled due to lack of wind. The team headed into the finals in 4th place, and with a true demonstration of skill, sailed their way to 1st in Youth and 2nd Overall. A fantastic achievement, congratulations to Hugo Butterworth (Skipper) and Bayley Taylor, Annabelle Sampson, Walter Tuite and Joshua Paulson.
Photo credit: Tidal Media Australia for Down Under Sail
In preparation for the event, the team had been doing a lot of individual training after school and work during the weeks. They also travelled to Antibes France and competed in a grade 2 match racing event which helped with their boat handling and team building.
As well as their individual training they trained together in the RPAYC Youth Development program. Through the ‘YD’ program, they had the opportunity to compete in the famous Hardy Cup hosted by RSYS on Sydney Harbour and the club’s own Harken Int. Youth Match Racing Championship as a team. They also went to the NSW Sailing League which is where they qualified RPAYC for the Asia Pacifics.
Goals for the Sailing Champions League Asia Pacific Finals, “Our goal was to qualify for Worlds, specifically Open Worlds as they are later in the year and will be more affordable. We also wanted to go as well as we possibly could and have fun” said Team member Bailey Taylor.
What was the highlight of the event?
“The highlight was finishing 2nd in the finals! We had a few rough hoists in that race and a few mishaps but somehow managed to keep up and choose the right side of the course and the right marks which got us across the line in 2nd”. A fantastic achievement for the team.
What’s next for the Team?
“A few of us will be stepping onto yachts for a while doing the IRC Nationals and Pittwater to Coffs and Port Stevens Regatta’s”.
For the team, they will keep training together and going to any regattas they get selected for through the Youth Development program. And hopefully, we head off to Portugal in September for the Sailing League Championship Open Worlds.
Report by Bailey Taylor