The Yachtsman 2017-2018 RPAYC Yachtsman 2016-2017 | Page 68

2017 GOVERNOR’S CUP AND YOUTH WORLD MATCH RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS
E
arlier this year I was selected to be one of
two skippers to represent Australia at the
Youth Match Racing World Championships
at Balboa Yacht Club in California. The team was
made up of Jessica Angus on main, Emma May
on trim and Hannah Lanz on bow.
We were also fortunate to be selected to compete
at the prestigious Governor’s Cup at the Balboa
Yacht Club, which was held two weeks before the
World Championships in the same boats.
Upon finding out about selection we knew we
had big shoes to fill after Will Dargaville and his
team from RPAYC had won the 2016 Youth Match
Racing World Championships. It was with the
help from Will Dargaville and many other Youth
Development members, giving up their time
at 6am on multiple mornings a week to come
training against us, that we felt prepared for the
competitions ahead.
CLARE COSTANZO
GOVERNOR’S CUP
T
he Governor’s cup consisted of 12 teams
from Australia, New Zealand, America
and Great Britain. This was an under
23 mixed event, with a record number
of girls competing! RPAYC bringing
along four females definitely helped boost the numbers!
The event was some of the best match racing we have
done, with a consistent eight knots every day making for
close and exciting racing.
We had a particularly close race against fellow
Australian Harry Price. We received a penalty in the
pre-start due to a judgment error, not quite entering
through the line properly at the four minute signal.
The pre-start continued on with our team getting the
better start with more speed and ability to cover our
opposition. However, due to our unforced error we had
to complete a 270 degree penalty turn before crossing
the finish line. We decided that we had extended far
enough in the race that we could comfortably complete
the penalty around the pin end of the line and win the
race. Unfortunately the one knot in the halyard we got
all regatta was at absolutely the most inconvenient time
and we were unable to drop the spinnaker straight away.
After moments of untangling the knot Hannah then
dropped the kite and we completed our turn and crossed
the line in front of Price. We were then told post race
that we had not been awarded the win due to the head
of the kite being above the goose neck when we tacked
to complete our turn. Although we were all adamant it
was down, there was nothing we could do to change the
decision. Even though we felt like we had been ‘robbed’
of the win and would have been the team to end Price’s
winning streak as his first loss of the regatta, we were still
extremely happy with our speed and tactics.
We carried this positive momentum through right
until the end of the round robins and the sail offs.
We sailed off for 5-6 place against fellow Australian Will
Boulden. It was quite funny that we had both travelled
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across the other side of the world to end up racing
someone else from the same country in the final races.
It all came down to the final race, with both teams
being on 2-2, winners taking 5th place. There were
multiple lead changes throughout the race. However,
after splitting before the final approach to the top mark,
Boulden managed to pick the correct side and sail ahead
of us around the final top mark and win the race.
The Governor’s cup for all of us was one of the best
regattas we have ever sailed. The hospitality of our hosts,
Don and Doris Stoughton, and the friendships forged
with the other sailors will be something we will always
remember and be extremely grateful for.
CLARE COSTANZO