2009 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Champions Crowned

6:40 AM Mon 12 Jan 2009 GMT

'420 fleet - OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2009' Greg Omay

122 boats, 177 competitors raced at this years' pinnacle Australian youth sailing regatta, the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship which was conducted by the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club (MOFSC).

The club is a hidden gem, some even saying it is the best sailing venue in Australia. The teams of officials and volunteers did a fantastic job of making sure everything ran smoothly. The Race Officers, Chris Kelly and Robin Olsen successfully ran all eleven scheduled races across the four days in a mixture of conditions with one lighter wind race in the morning gradient breeze and two strong wind races in the sea breeze each afternoon.

11 Champions were crowned across the five classes; Laser Radial, BIC Techno, 420, Laser 4.7 and 29er. Queensland produced the most winners this year with, Curtis Skinner winning in the Laser Radial Boys, Ashley Stoddart in the Laser Radial Girls, Luke Baillie in the BIC Techno Boys, Joanna Sterling in the BIC Techno Girls and the first Australian in the Laser 4.7 was Andrew Torpelund. Victoria was the next highest performing state, cleaning up in the 29er class with James Sly & Andrew Gillies winning the boys and Bec Tuma & Emma Louise Daly winning the girls and Alison Dale won the Laser 4.7 Girls. Western Australia won the Boys 420 title with David Gilmour and James Omay and South Australia won the Girls 420 title with Lauren Thredgold & Megan Soulsby.

Not only were there 11 National titles won here but this event also formed the final part of the selection for the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Sailing Team for the 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship which will be hosted in Buzios, Brazil from 9th to 18th July.

Jury in action in the protest room - 2009 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship - Yachting Australia

The winners are:

The OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team 2009:

Laser Radial Boys - Curtis Skinner (QLD)
Laser Radial Girls - Ashley Stoddart (QLD)
Windsurfing Boys - Luke Baillie (QLD)
Windsurfing Girls - Joanna Sterling (QLD)
420 Boys - David Gilmour & James Omay (WA)
420 Girls - Lauren Thredgold/Megan Soulsby (SA)
Multihull Open - Jason Waterhouse & Lisa Darmanin (NSW)

Yachting Queensland's State High-Performance Coach, Adrian Finglas spoke with pride about his young sailors, 'They have all put in a huge amount of effort and worked really hard over the last 12 months. Queensland hasn't had a sailor qualify for the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team since 2000 and to get to where we are today, winning four of the seven events required a cultural shift to steer sailors away from the very highly regarded Schools Teams Racing Program and into fleet racing and then change the attitudes of the youngsters and teach them to believe in themselves'.

For the second time Yachting Australia also include the opportunity for competitor's results to contribute to the 'State Cup'. A perpetual trophy awarded to the best performing Australian state. The 'State Cup' is seen as an exciting initiative to further build the competitive experience and inter-state rivalries among the competitors who travel from across Australia to compete at the event. And the 2009 State Cup winner is Western Australia.

The Nick Peate Memorial Trophy for Outstanding Sportsmanship was awarded by Nicks' mother, Janice Peate who gave a touching speech and awarded the prize to James Sly and Andrew Gillies in the 29er class for their show of sportsmanship on the race course, who despite being the right of way boat, held back from sailing through the gate to the finish to allow the Laser 4.7 to finish rounding the marks without causing any disruption.

Nick Peate won the 2008 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship in the 29er but sadly died before he got to compete in the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship. It is the values of fair play and sportsmanship that Nick held dear, that this award aims to recognise.

The Jury have been busy on the water during the day and resolving protests by night. It is good to see 19 year old 470 sailor, Tristan Brown on the Jury at this regatta. Tristan explained what it is like, 'It is tough work being on the Jury, the days are long and intense concentration is required the whole time. It's been really interesting to see things through the Juries eyes and I've learned a lot like, where the hot spots are.'

Windsurfing Event, BIC Techno 293Class:

Local Freemantle windsurfer, Eamon Robertshaw won both the final races taking his heat win score tally to three and winning him self the bronze medal. This year's Champion and winner of the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team Trials is Queensland's, Luke Baillie who won over last year's Champion, Tom England.

The winner of the Girls Windsurfing Selection for the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team 2009 is Joanna Sterling, also from Queensland. Luke and Jo are training partners on Morton Bay and will both now move from the BIC Techno to the equipment that will be raced at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, the RS:X.

Joanna said, 'I only learned about the Youth Worlds a couple of months ago and now I am going, it's all happening so fast! I'm really excited!'

Results:

BIC Techno 293 Race 10:
1 Eamon Robertshaw (WA)
2 Luke Baillie (QLD)
3 Tom England (VIC)

BIC Techno 293 Race 11:
1 Eamon Robertshaw (WA)
1 Luke Baillie (QLD)
2 Tom England (VIC)

BIC Techno 293 Boys Winners:
1 Luke Baillie (QLD)
2 Tom England (VIC)
3 Eamon Robertshaw (WA)

BIC Techno 293 Girls Winners:

7 Joanna Sterling (QLD)
8 Rebecca Wyatt (NSW)
9 Emily Pettersson (WA)

* 2008 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth BIC Techno Boys Champion: Tom England (VIC)
* 2008 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth BIC Techno Girls Champion: NA

One-Person Dinghy Event, Laser Radial Class:

Queenslands Curtis Skinner won the final race and took the overall title and also won selection to the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team 2009 along with his team mate, Ashley Stoddart. When the pair came ashore they were met by proud parents, coaches and friends and showered in Champaign before being thrown into the water by fellow competitors as part of the traditional end of regatta winning celebrations.

'This is awesome! I'm going to Brazil, it's windy there too so I am really looking forward to it' Curtis told and he continued, 'I finished 2nd in the trials last year to Tom Burton in the Laser which motivated me more to make it this time. All the hard work and hard hours of hiking has paid off, everything has fallen into place at the right time and I won! WHOOO!'

Ashley was still in shock when she first got back to shore. 'It hasn't sunk in yet. I've worked for this for so long and I looked at Gabrielle King winning for years and admired her so much that I didn't think I would ever be at that level but now I am!'

The overall winner in the Laser Radial Girls after winning the first heat today is Elizabeth Yin from Singapore with Ashley second and Alex South (NSW) in third.

Results:

Laser Radial Race 10:
1 Elizabeth Yin (SIN)
2 Alex South (NSW)
3 Mark Whittington (WA)

Laser Radial Race 11:
1 Curtis Skinner (QLD)
2 Elliott Noye (TAS)
3 Christopher Jones (TAS)

Laser Radial Boys Winners:
1 Curtis Skinner (QLD)
2 Scott Sydney (SIN)
3 Mark Whittington (WA)

Laser Radial Girls Winners:

1 Elizabeth Yin (SIN)
2 Ashley Stoddart (QLD) - Australian Champion
3 Alex South (NSW)

* 2008 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Girls Laser Radial Champion: Gabrielle King (NSW)
* 2008 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Boys Laser Radial Champion: Elliott Noye (TAS)

Two-Person Dinghy Event, 420 Class:

David Gilmour and James Omay lead the 420 fleet right from day one and winning the final race cemented their title win along with winning thm the selection to represent Australia at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship 2009. In second place team was Justin Liu and Sherman Cheng from Singapore and in third, Matthew Jerwoon and Patrick Vos from Western Australia.

The 420 Girls title was won by Lauren Thredgold and Megan Soulsby from South Australia with the Singaporean Team of Griselda Khng and Cecilia Low in second and Amy Kivell & Jacqueline Gurr in third. The OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team trials was won on count back by Lauren Thredgold & Megan Soulsby over Amy Kivell & Jacqueline Gurr.

David Gilmour & James Omay, winners of the 420 Boys - OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2009 - Greg Omay

Results:

420 Race 10:
1 Griselda khng/Cecilia Low (SIN)
2 Justin Liu/Sherman Cheng (SIN)
3 Lauren Thredgold/Megan Soulsby (SA)

420 Race 11:
1 David Gilmour/James Omay (WA)
2 Griselda khng/Cecilia Low (SIN)
3 Karl Bromfield/Marcus CONWAY (NSW)

420 Boys Winners:
1 David Gilmour/James Omay (WA)
2 Justin Liu/Sherman Cheng (SIN)
3 Matthew Jerwood/Patrick Vos (WA)

420 Girls Winners:
1 Lauren Thredgold/Megan Soulsby (SA)
2 Griselda khng/Cecilia Low (SIN)
3 Amy Kivell/Jacqueline Gurr (VIC)

Amy Kivell & Jacqueline Gurr (420) - OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2009 - Greg Omay

* 2008 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Boys Champion: David Gilmour & Andres Noe (WA)
* 2008 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Girls Champion: Sanne Koelemij & Breanna Vos (WA)

One-Person Dinghy Event, the Laser 4.7 Class:

Winning the final race and the overall title was Nicolas Poree (FRA) who spoke enthusiastically about his three weeks racing in Australia, 'I like it very much here, Australia is a very beautiful place and Western Australia especially and the people are very nice'. When asked how winning feels he said, 'It feels exciting to win but I just sail for fun'. Sailing for fun seems to be a successful way to go about things if Nicolas tally of title wins is anything to go by as the former New Zealand and Australian Optimist Champion also won this year's Australian Laser 4.7 Class Championship.

Queenslander, Andrew Torpelund was the top Australian and second overall in the Laser 4.7 Boys event ahead of Zac Pullen from Tasmania. Andrew credited his coach, Adrian Finglas saying, 'Aids told me, 'You don't win regattas by winning races, you win by being consistent' and that stuck with me. I didn't win a single race this regatta'

Winning the first race today wasn't enough to defend Ashlie Lane's title and she finished up 3rd overall behind 2nd placed Martina Ciotti and the new Laser 4.7 Girls Champion, Alison Dale from Victoria. Ashlie likes the independence of singlehanded sailing and is planning to move into the Laser Radial class next year and aim for the youth worlds and then the Olympics.

Results:

Laser 4.7 Race 10:
1 Ashlie Lane (NT)
2 Stephen Collings (VIC)
3 Harald Faste (NOR)

Laser 4.7 Race 11:
1 Nicolas Poree (FRA)
2 Ella Evans (QLD)
3 Andrew Torpelund (QLD)

Laser 4.7 Boys Winners:
1 Nicolas Poree (FRA)
2 Andrew Torpelund (QLD) - Australian Champion
3 Zac Pullen (TAS)

Happy winner of the Laser 4.7, Nicolas Poree (FRA) - 2009 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship - Yachting Australia

Laser 4.7 Girls Winners:
1 Alison Dale (VIC)
2 Martina Ciotti (WA)
3 Ashlie Lane (NT)

* 2008 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Boys Champion: Stephen Collings (VIC)
* 2008 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Girls Champion: Ashlie Lane (NT)

Two-Person Skiff Event, 29er Class:

In the skiff event, James Sly and Andrew Gillies reclaimed the lead after scoring a 2nd and winning the final race. The team has sailed together for two years and hope to continue on together all the way to the Olympic Games in a 49er. When asked, why skiffs? They said, 'Because they are fast and exciting!'. The team had a hairy bottom mark rounding in the first race yesterday when they had a collision with a windsurfer, 'We ended up with a chunk of BIC Techno hanging off our forestay! It wasn't our fault and put the pressure on us to pull back the ground we lost but we are used to that and have won which feels fantastic!'

Adam Glaskin and James Loughridge from WA finish 2nd with Angus Rankin and James Dahl in third.

Results:

29er Race 10:
1 Daniel Roberts/Leo Showell (WA)
2 James Sly/Andrew Gillies (VIC)
3 Angus Rankin/James Dahl (QLD)

29er Race 11:
1 James Sly/Andrew Gillies (VIC)
2 Angus Rankin/James Dahl (QLD)
3 Daniel Roberts/Leo Showell

29er Overall:
1 James Sly/Andrew Gillies (VIC)
2 Adam Glaskin/James Loughridge (WA)
3 Angus Rankin/James Dahl (QLD)
4 Daniel Roberts/Leo Showell (WA)
5 Jack Lloyd/James Lainson (VIC)
6 Sean Carr/Jesse Craig (WA)
7 Bec Tuma/Emma Louise Daly (VIC)
8 Thomas Stuchbery/Alexander McGuigan (VIC)
9 Jason White/Reagan Watson (WA)

Full results from the regatta at www.yachting.org.au/youthchamps

29er Winners - 2009 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship - Kerina Puttman

Laser 4.7 Girls Winner, Alison Dale - 2009 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship - Yachting Australia

Laser Radial Girls and Boys Champions and OAMPS Insurance Brokers Austrlian Youth Team trials winners, Ashley Stoddart and Curtis Skinner both from Queensland - 2009 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship - Yachting Australia

420 Girls Champions, Lauren Thredgold/Megan Soulsby with second placed, Griselda khng/Cecilia Low (SIN) and thrid placed, Amy Kivell/Jacqueline Gurr - 2009 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship - Kerina Puttman

by Laura Baldwin

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