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18 November 2005, 02:55 pm

CYCA Teams Dominate Day Two

Bavaria International Youth Match Racing 2005

Sydney, Australia

Today's consistent north-easterly sea breeze allowed the two Cruising Yacht Club of Australia teams, led by Evan WALKER (AUS) and Seve JARVIN (AUS), to shine in the second round robin of the four day ISAF Grade 3 Bavaria International Youth Match Racing Regatta in Sydney, Australia.

In the building northeaster, both CYCA teams were able to control their opponents during pre-starts and out manoeuvre them in nearly every match to finish at the top of the leader board on equal points.

The best placed teams from yesterday's round robin, JARVIN, WALKER, Fremantle Sailing Club's Torvar MIRSKY (AUS) and the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron's Stuart POLLARD (AUS), again overshadowed the remaining six teams, and provided some of the closest and most exciting racing of the regatta.

One of the most notable matches of the day was POLLARD versus MIRSKY. POLLARD, who was leading in the final sprint to the finish, needed to clear an outstanding penalty by the end of the run while MIRSKY, who was trying to stay behind to avoid compromising the penalty advantage, unintentionally gybed allowing POLLARD to luff underneath him and take control.

MIRSKY gybed back to maintain his tactical position however he had insufficient room to complete the gybe and the umpires penalized him. Unfortunately for MIRSKY he thought he had received a 'red flag' penalty (requiring him to immediately take a penalty turn) and while executing his turn, POLLARD managed to slip through to take the race.

POLLARD's race against JARVIN was equally exciting with four penalties awarded.

The two all girl teams gave today's round robin their best shot, demonstrating excellent skills around the course, however in the fresh conditions they were not as strong in the pre-starts.

America's Cup and present World Champion match racing bowman Andy FETHERS (AUS), who is in Sydney to coach the Royal Perth Yacht Club team, summed up the first two round robins, 'The standard here is extremely high and the level of boat control is consistently outstanding.

'I envy the opportunity these young sailors have to sail in such a high standard regatta where crews do not have to rotate boats and are able to experience so many races within the four day regatta period.'

Racing will continue tomorrow with the teams presently placed fifth to tenth sailing a mini round robin to decide their final positions. A race between the two overall leaders, JARVIN and WALKER, will also be resailed before the semi finals and finals commence.

Bavaria International Youth Match Racing Standings

1. Seve JARVIN (AUS), 16-2
2. Evan WALKER (AUS), 15-3
3. Torvar MIRSKY (AUS), 14-4
3. Stuart POLLARD (AUS), 14-4
5. Hamish ROUGHLEY (AUS), 8-10
6. Robert GIBBS (AUS), 7-11
7. Phil ROBERTSON (NZL), 6-12
8. Theo MCDONNELL (NZL), 5-13
9. Nina CURTIS (AUS), 3-15
10. Megan RIDGWAY (AUS), 1-17