Drifter On Day One

A difficult day for competitors and officials alike as light and hazy conditions prevailed on Pittwater for day 1 of the ISAF Grade 3 HARKEN International Youth Match Racing series at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.

The Pittwater took on an eerie colour with metallic silver water set against a balmy white haze which managed to conceal the sun as the white spinnakers ghosted along in just 3-5 knots of NE system breeze with 8 knots the gust of the day…

Both pools of six teams completed five flights with Australia’s Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron and the South of Perth Yacht Club setting the early pace with four wins and just one loss each. Tipping the scales at a mere 170kgs, the SOPYC team made the most of the light conditions. In the other pool, Fremantle Sailing Club, Royal Sydney, the Cruising Yacht Club and hosts RPAYC each posted three wins and two losses and there were a number of come from behind wins, notably the host Club’s Nick SOUTER who turned a 20 sec deficit at the start of the final run into a 20 sec win over the RNZYS’ Andrew PHILLIPS who struggled in the light stuff managing just one win today.

Still it’s early days yet and the double round robin plus repechage format will ensure that the cream eventually rises to the top hopefully across a range of conditions, though more of the same are forecast for Day 2 together with late thunderstorms. The series runs through the week with the finals on Sunday.

Wins/Losses after five flights;

Cruising Yacht Club Australia AUS3/2
Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron AUS3/2
Fremantle Sailing Club AUS3/2
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club AUS3/2
Royal Yachting Association GBR2/3
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron NZL1/5