Dargaville takes the 2016 Youth Match Racing World title

Will Dargaville and his crew from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club emerged from an All-Australian final to take the 2016 Youth Match Racing Championship in Noumea, New Caledonia.

Will Dargaville, Sarah Parker, Josh Dawson and James Farquharson and coach Tom Spithill, brother of America’s Cup skipper Jimmy, leapt into the lee of Ilôt Maître as champions after overcoming compatriots Harry Price, Angus Williams and Ben Robinson in three finals matches.
 
Talking of the win, Dargaville said, “It is a wonderful win against a crew that we know well and that we thought were better than us…until now.”
 
France’s Robin Follin and his crew of Marine Boudot, Germain Gaultier and Bruno Mourniac took third place overall. In the Petit Final, they beat the local New Caledonian crew of Cyril Fortin, Kim Goetz and Jeremy Picot 2-0.
 
The New Caledonians fourth place was an unexpected result at a world championship as they came in to the regatta as rank outsiders. A very good performance, but tainted with disappointment, nonetheless. Two to one up and leading in the fourth match, the home crew finally succumb to eventual winner Will Dargaville who used his experience to win and progress for his chance at the title. A chance he took.
 
For the full results and leaderboard go to http://www.matchracingresults.com/2016/youth-world-championship/