Ireland's Tom Higgins, Jamie McMahon, Fiona Ferguson, Xavier McLachlan and Riley Evans from Dun Laoghaire's Royal St. George Yacht Club have finished fifth overall at the Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship in Australia.
In a thrilling final between Ben Tylecote from GBR representing Rutland Sailing Club and Zac West from AUS representing the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, West took the first 2 wins in a best-of-five finals showdown. Tylecote returned with true determination in a neck-and-neck race to take race 3. Race 4 had both teams switching positions, West with a 2-point lead only needed one more race win to take the championship. Every decision counted!
West inched ahead to take the win and the celebrations started!
Both West and Tylecote fought hard throughout today's races, winning by the smallest of margins through their respective Semi-Final matches with straight wins against Frewin from NZL and Kemp from Australia to make it to the final.
Pittwater stayed true to its form, making racing tricky for all competitors with its flicky weather. Competition was close across all teams, with the smallest of errors costing them the win.
Principle Race Officer, Ted Anderson claimed the 29th Harken International Youth Championship as his best event ever, not from just the skill of the teams, the quality of umpires, and his champion team on water but from the comradery and mateship of all involved in the event.
Chief Umpire Richard Slater who umpires America Cup events, Sail GP and advisers many classes on rules stated that "Ümpiring for the Harken Event this week with his fellow umpires has been an absolute joy, all the teams showed exceptional sportsmanship, took on our feedback and rulings without dispute. Truly made it a pleasure to be a part of the event".
2023 Overall Places
10th Place: Hugo Butterworth (AUS)
Bayley Taylor
Walter Tuite
Josh Paulson
Annabelle Sampson
9th Place: Mia Lovelady (AUS) Matilda Rowell
Rosie Rowell
Drina Bucktin
Sophie Townes
8th Place: Rory Sims (NZL)
Ella Arnold
Ethan Fong
Harry McMullen
Sam Scott
7th Place: Richard Rychlik Jr (CAN)
Jack Porter
Cameron Bruce
Rachel Green
Josh Hyde
6th Place: Nicolas Bernal (BRA)
Marcos Arndt
Bruna Patricio
Carolina Witsiers
Gabriel Michaelis
5th Place: Tom Higgins (IRL)
Jamie McMahon
Fiona Ferguson
Xavier McLachlan
Riley Evans
4th Place: Jack Frewin (NZL)
Oliver Gilmour
Oliver Lloyd
Sofia Higgott
3rd Place: Daniel Kemp (AUS)
William Hough
Lachlan Wallace
Charlie Verity
Isabella Holdsworth
2nd Place: Ben Tylecote (GBR) Freya Pembury
Jamie Tylecote
Finian Morris
Terry Hacker
1st Place &
Champions Zac West
Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (AUS) Jameson Prescott
James Hayhoe
Emily Keg
Katina Casimaty
