Day One at the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship

3:55 AM Fri 9 Jan 2009 GMT

'420’s at the OAMPS Australian Youth Championship 2009 - OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2009' Laura Baldwin Click Here to view large photo

This years' pinnacle Australian youth sailing regatta, the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship is underway at the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club (MOFSC) in WA with racing concluding on 11th January 2009.

The Championship includes events for Laser 4.7 (Girls and Boys), Laser Radial (Girls and Boys), Laser Full Rig (Boys), 420 (Girls, Boys & Mixed), 29er (Girls, Boys & Mixed) and the developing Bic Techno 293 Sailboard (Girls and Boys).

Not only are there National titles up for grabs but this event also forms 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.

For the second time Yachting Australia will also include the opportunity for competitor's results to contribute to the 'State Cup'. A perpetual trophy will be 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.

Day One Race Report & Results:

Windsurfing Event, BIC Techno 293Class:

In the BIC Technos' second appearance as the Windsurfing Class at this Championship the entries have increased from 5 to 9 with the Girls getting an event this year with 3 female entries. The competitors come from 4 different states showing that windsurfing is spreading. In some states such as NSW there has been a massive push to boost the sport with a team of enthusiasts of the highest calibre with three time Olympian and former World Champion, Jessica Crisp fronting a campaign to share her skills and knowledge with the next generation.

Jessica runs training and racing, along with her Beijing Olympics training partner in the RS:X, Janice Stolstrom from Norway and talented Coach, Jenni Bonnitcha. The team use different clubs around Sydney Harbour with training from MHYC on Tuesday and racing at DSC on Wednesdays, WSC on Thursdays and back to MHYC on Fridays followed by a BBQ. Jessica bought 12 One-Design Windsurfers and charters them out for $10, an unbelievable bargain when considering the level of coaching the sailors get! And it's not just for the kids, many adults have been inspired to dig their old boards out of the garage and join in the fun.

To find out more, come along to the lawn between MHYC and MHASC on Friday 9th January.

Yachting Australia has also invested in windsurfing's development with the purchase of 10 BIC Techno 293 boards that rotate around the states to enable learn to windsurf courses to run.

Tom England Leads the BIC Techno Class at the 2009 OAMPS Australian Youth Championship - OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2009 - Laura Baldwin Click Here to view large photo

Results:

Windsurfing Boys Race One:
1 - Tom England (VIC)
2 - Scott Sharpe (WA)
3 - Eamon Robertshaw (WA)

Windsurfing Boys Race Two:
1 - Luke Baillie (QLD)
2 - Tom England (VIC)
3 - Eamon Robertson (WA)

Windsurfing Boys Race Three:
1 - Luke Baillie (QLD)
2 - Tom England (VIC)
3 - Eamon Robertson (WA)

Windsurfing Boys Leader Board After Day One:
1 - Tom England (VIC)
2 - Luke Baillie (QLD)
3 - Eamon Robertson (WA)

* 2008 Champion: Tom England (VIC)

Windsurfing Girls Race One:
1 - Rebecca Wyatt (NSW)
2 - Joanna Sterling (QLD)
3 - Emily Pettersson (WA)

Windsurfing Girls Race Two:
1 - Joanna Sterling (QLD)
2 - Rebecca Wyatt (NSW)
3 - Emily Pettersson (WA)

Windsurfing Girls Race Three:
1 - Joanna Sterling (QLD)
2 - Rebecca Wyatt (NSW)
3 - Emily Pettersson (WA)

Windsurfing Girls Leader Board After Day One:
1 - Joanna Sterling (QLD)
2 - Rebecca Wyatt (NSW)
3 - Emily Pettersson (WA)

* 2008 Champion: NA

One-Person Dinghy Event, Laser Radial Class:

The fleet of 30 sailors come from two different Countries and six different states and is being lead by the two sailors from Singapore with the 2008 Beijing Olympic representative, Elizabeth Yin having a 2 point lead over Scott Sydney. Scott does actually live in Sydney and trains out of Woollahra Sailing Club at Rose Bay. The top Aussie sitting in third place is Mark Whittington from WA.

Last year's Laser Radial champion, Gabrielle King and Laser Champion,Tom Burton are both at the regatta venue catching up with friends and offering advice to sailors as they are no longer youths. They are on a break between the Laser / Laser Radial National Championship and the Asia Pacific Regatta. Gabrielle added another gold medal to her collection with winning the Women's title at the National Championship. The current leaders of the trials after the Laser Radial Class Championship in Freemantle last week are Ashley Stoddart in the girls and Curtis Skinner in the boys.

After scoring 15, 3, 9 today in the combined boys and girls Laser Radial fleet, Ashley Stoddart (QLD) is just 2 points ahead of her rival, Alex South (NSW). Ashley talked through her races with the same relaxed manor in which she attacked the day with confidence, 'I got a good start in the first race and rounded well at the top mark but the land and sea breeze began to fight making it really tricky and I lost places by the finish but in race two the sea breeze had set in and so after a bad start I was able to tack away quickly to clear my air and use my boat speed advantage to pull back up to 3rd by the end. The same was the case in the final race, again a bad start and a very deep first mark rounding but I pulled back up to 9th so I'm very happy with today. The wind and waves by the end were awesome!'

Ashley Stoddart (QLD) Leading in the Women’s Laser Radial Class at the 2009 OAMPS Australian Youth Championship - OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2009 - Laura Baldwin Click Here to view large photo

Results:

Laser Radial Girls Race One:
1 - Elizabeth Yin (SIN)
2 - Alex South (NSW)
3 - Ashley Stoddart (QLD)

Laser Radial Girls Race Two:
1 - Ashley Stoddart (QLD)
2 - Alex South (NSW)
3 - Elizabeth Yin (SIN)

Laser Radial Girls Race Three:
1 - Elizabeth Yin (SIN)
2 - Ashley Stoddart (QLD)
3 - Alex South (NSW)

Laser Radial Girls Leader Board After Day One:
1 - Elizabeth Yin (SIN)
2 - Ashley Stoddart (QLD)
3 - Alex South (NSW)

* 2008 Champion: Gabrielle King (NSW)

Laser Radial Boys Race One:
1 - Michael Vincent (NSW)
2 - Martin Wright (WA)
3 - Mitchell Kennedy (QLD)

Laser Radial Boys Race Two:
1 - Curtis Skinner (QLD)
2 - Scott Sydney (NSW)
3 - Christopher Jones (TAS)

Laser Radial Boys Race Two:
1 - Curtis Skinner (QLD)
2 - Elliott Noye (QLD)
3 - Mark Whittington (WA)

Laser Radial Boys Leader Board After Day One:
1 - Scott Sydney (NSW)
2 - Mark Whittington (WA)
3 - Mitchell Kennedy (QLD)

* 2008 Champion: Elliott Noye (TAS)

Two-Person Dinghy Event, 420 Class:

The Singapore Team has 11 boats competing in the 420 fleet of 45 entries, an impressive turn out. The 2006 Optimist World Championship Silver Medallist and Women's World Champion, Griselda Khng wasn't really happy with her days performance but was still enthusiastic about how much she enjoyed the days racing and explained, 'We don't have conditions like this in Singapore, it is always the same at home with flat water and light winds so it is really helpful to race in these different conditions. I like the wind and waves, its good fun!'

With just 8 months experience sailing in the 420, Griselda is showing huge potential for the future and is clear about her goals she explained, 'This event together with the Australian 420 National Championship is the trials for the Singapore Team to compete at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, it's my goal to win the trials and then to finish top three at the Worlds. My dream goal is to race at the Olympics'.

Before sailing the 420, Griselda spent 7 months sailing a 29er. When asked which she prefers she answered, 'I prefer the 420 because I like the technical side of the boat and I like that the helm holds the main sheet as it gives me better feel for the boat. In the 29er the crew does most of the work to sail the boat, the helm just holds the tiller and the jib. Having said that I do like the speed of the 29er and I would be happy to race either the 29erXX or 470 at the Olympic Games one day'.

The Singaporean Team looks to be doing something right after cleaning up at the Australian 420 Class Championship last week with Griselda Khng & Cecilia Low winning the girls and Justin Lin & Sherman Cheng winning the overall title. Talking to Griselda it was clear that the difference is in the level of training. Griselda goes to a 'special sports school' where she studies from 7am to 11am and then sails between 2 - 3 hours before returning to school to continue her studies from 7:30pm to 9:30pm.

After a difficult opening race, Byron White and Jay Griffin (NSW) won the following two races. 'Once the sea breeze kicked in at the end of the first race the conditions became rough out there, big winds of 20+ knots and big seas but that's what we do best in so we were enjoying it', Byron commented. Jay continued to explain the reasons for their success, 'We got good starts, winning the bias pin end of the line in race two and just down from the pin in race three. The left paid once the sea breeze kicked in and we were fast'.

The pair teamed up only six months ago but have been friends for years after meeting through the CYCA Youth Match Race program they share common goals, to win the Olympics, the World Match Race Tour and the America's Cup. When asked what class they would ideally like to compete in at the Olympics they were torn between the 49er for it's exciting speed and the 470 for it's technical challenge and required 'smarts'.

David Gilmour & James Omay from WA lead after scoring 2, 3, 5. After winning the opening race, Angus Galloway & Alexander Gough from QLD are just 2 points behind the leaders and one point infront of Byron White & Jay Griffin from NSW.

Results:

420 Boys Race One:
1 - Angus Galloway & Alexander Gough (QLD)
2 - David Gilmour & James Omay (WA)
3 - Justin Liu & Sherman Cheng (SIN)

420 Boys Race Two:
1 - Byron White & Jay Griffin (NSW)
2 - Matthew Jerwood & Patrick (WA)
3 - David Gilmour & James Omay (WA)

420 Boys Race Three:
1 - Byron White & Jay Griffin (NSW)
2 - Angus Galloway & Alexander Gough (QLD)
3 - Henry Say & (VIC)

420 Boys Leader Board After Day One:
1 - David Gilmour & James Omay (WA)
2 - Angus Galloway & Alexander Gough (QLD)
3 - Byron White & Jay Griffin (NSW)

* 2008 Champion: David Gilmour & Andres Noe (WA)

420 Girls Race One:
1 - Griselda Khng & Cecilia Low (SIN)
2 - Aimee Negri & Breanna Vos (WA)
3 - Amy Kivell & Jacqueline Gurr (VIC)

420 Girls Race Two:
1 - Lauren Thredgold & Megan Soulsby (SA)
2 - Amiee Negri & Breanna Vos (WA)
3 - Amy Kivell & Jacqueline Gurr (VIC)

420 Girls Race Three:
1 - Aimee Negri & Breanna Vos (WA)
2 - Lauren Thredgold & Megan Soulsby (SA)
3 - Griselda Khng & Cecilia Low (SIN)

420 Girls Leader Board After Day One:
1 - Aimee Negri & Breanna Vos (WA)
2 - Griselda Khng & Cecilia Low (SIN)
3 - Amy Kivell & Jacqueine Gurr (VIC)

* 2008 Champion: Sanne Koelemij & Breanna Vos (WA)

One-Person Dinghy Event, the Laser 4.7 Class:

In the Laser 4.7 Class 30 boats are competing from 4 different Countries, AUS, NOR, FRA and SIN. There are 10 female and 20 male sailors. Last years winners, Ashlie Lane (NT) and Stephen Collings (TAS) are both back again to defend their titles.

Results:

Laser 4.7 Boys Race One:
1 - Harald Faste (NOR)
2 - Nicolas Poree (FRA)
3 - Stephen Collings (VIC)

Laser 4.7 Boys Race Two:
1 - Nicolas Poree (FRA)
2 - Nicholas Howe (NSW)
3 - Andrew Torpelund (QLD)

Laser 4.7 Boys Race Three:
1 - Nicolas Faste (FRA)
2 - Alexander Knight (AUS)
3 - Matt Wearn (WA)

Laser 4.7 Boys Leader Board After Day One:
1 - Nicolas Poree (FRA)
2 - Nicholas Howe (NSW)
3 - Alexander Knight (AUS)

* 2008 Champion: Stephen Collings (VIC)

Laser 4.7 Girls Race One:
1 - Alison Dale (VIC)
2 - Ashlie Lane (NT)
3 - Samantha Charlwood (WA)

Laser 4.7 Girls Race Two:
1 - Ashlie Lane (NT)
2 - Alison Dale (VIC)
3 - Ella Evans (QLD)

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

Laser 4.7 Girls Leader Board After Day One:
1 - Alison Dale (VIC)
2 - Ashlie Lane (NT)
3 - Samantha Charlwood (WA)

* 2008 Champion: Ashlie Lane (NT)

Two-Person Skiff Event, 29er Class:

The 29er Class will not be a part of the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship this year but will be back the following year. As it is not a selection event for the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team this years numbers are down with only 9 entries. The overnight leaders, Angus Rankin and James Dahl have still come all the way from Queensland and there are 4 entries from Victoria including the only female entry.

Jack Lloyd and James Lainson won the opening heat and sit in second place overnight. James Sly and Andrew Gillies won the second heat and sit in 4th place behind Adam Glaskin and James Loughridge who won the final heat of the day.

Results:

29er Race One:
1 - Jack Lloyd & James Lainson (VIC)
2 - Angus Rankin & James Dahl (QLD)
3 - Sean Carr & Jesse Craig (WA)

29er Race Two:
1 - James Sly & Andrew Gillies (VIC)
2 - Adam Glaskin & James Laughridge (WA)
3 - Jack Lloyd & James Lainson (VIC)

29er Race Three:
1 - Adam Glaskin & James Laughridge (WA)
2 - Angus Rankin & James Dahl (QLD)
3 - Daniel Roberts & Leo Showell (WA)

29er Leader Board After Day One:
1 - Angus Rankin & James Dahl (QLD)
2 - Jack Lloyd & James Lainson (VIC)
3 - Adam Glaskin & James Laughridge (WA)

* 2008 Champion: NA

Racing Schedule for Day One (9th January):

11am - Laser Radial & 420 - Bravo Course
11:15am - 29er, BIC Techno & Laser 4.7 - Charlie Course

OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team 2009 Trials Leader Board Going Into This Final Trials Regatta;

Laser Radial Girls:
1 - Ashley Stoddart (QLD) 23 points
2 - Alex South (NSW) 22 points

Laser Radial Boys:
1 - Curtis Skinner (QLD) 30 points
2 - Christopher Jones (TAS) 28 points
3 - Mark Whittington (WA) 27 points
4 - Elliot Noye (TAS) 26 points
5 - Mitchell Kennedy (QLD) 24 points
6 - Brendan Torpelund (QLD) 21 points
7 - Benjamin Franklin (QLD) 20 points
8 - Martin Wright (WA) 19 points
9 - Ki-Raphael Sulkowski (WA) 17 points
10 - Phillip Kurts (NSW) 15 points
11 - Thomas Lovelady (WA) 14 points
12 - Rohan Langford (TAS) 11 points
13 - Luke Thompson (WA) 10 points
14 - Luke Elliott (WA) 8 points
15 - Thomas Dillon (NSW) 6 points
16 - Rory Glover (NSW) 3 points

420 Girls:
1 - Amy Kivell & Jacqueline Gurr (VIC) 22 points
2 - Lauren Thredgold & Megan Soulsby (SA) 18 points
3 - Lucy Shephard & Amelia Catt (TAS) 12 points
4 - Aimee Negri & Breanna Vos (WA) 9 points
5 - Nikita Thomas & Jenny Middleton (WA) 6 points
6 - Michele Lane & Jessica Stephens (?) 1 point

420 Boys:
1 - David Gilmour & James Omay (WA) 29 points
2 - Matthew Jerwood & Patrick Vos (WA) 28 points
3 - Sean Ott & Adam Lahey (QLD) 27 points
4 - Byron White & Jay Griffin (NSW) 26 points
5 - Karl Bromfield & Marcus Conway (NSW) 25 points
6 - Angus Galloway & Alex Gough (QLD) 24 points
7 - Matthew Crawford & Robert Crawford (NSW) 21 points
8 - Henry Say & James Owen-Smith (VIC) 20 points
9 - William Llewelyn & Harold Mighell (VIC) 19 points
10 - Chris Smith & Jack Walker (WA) 15 points
11 - Rhys Collins & Andrew Gough (QLD) 13 points
12 - Vincent Langen (NSW) 11 points
13 - Samuel Gilmour & Adam Negri (WA) 8 points
14 - Edward Campbell & Peter Wong (WA) 7 points
15 - Sam Duncan & Lewis Duncan (VIC) 5 points
16 - Thomas Klemens & Stuart Baird (VIC) 4 points
17 - Luke Tan & Russell Kan (?) 3 points

The Windsurfing Boys and Girls OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team representatives will be the first boy and first girl at this regatta.

OAMPS Australian Youth Championship 2009 - OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2009 - Laura Baldwin Click Here to view large photo

Event: The OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2009
Venue: The Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club (MOFSC) in WA
Dates: 6th - 11th January

Competing Classes:

Laser 4.7 (Girls and Boys)

Laser Radial (Girls and Boys)

Laser Full Rig (Boys)

420 (Girls, Boys & Mixed)

29er (Girls, Boys & Mixed)

Bic Techno 293 Sailboard (Girls and Boys)

Event History:
The first event was hosted just down the road in Rockingham in 1998 where 33 boats contested in 6 events, the event now regularly boats fleets of over 100.

OAMPS Insurance Brokers has been the major sponsor of the Australian Youth Program for the last two years. With a strong base and excellent results we look forward to a partnership that ensures 'Australian Bred Success' for many years to come.

Australias' best Race Officials are attending this event to ensure the best and fairest racing with;
Race Officers; Chris Kelly and Robin Olsen
Deputy Race Officers; Gary Hosie and Trevor Milton
Measurer; Barry Johnson
YA Technical Delegate; Wayne Thompson
National Jury; Graeme Owens, Sue Sawday, Tristan Brown, Tim Went, Paul Pascoe

Team Selection for the 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship:
Not only are there National titles up for grabs but this event also forms 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.

About Mandurah:
Mandurah was once a sleepy fishing village but now has a thriving population of 61,000. Situated an hours drive from Perth (74km) at the mouth of the Peel-Harvey Estuary, the City has built along the edge of the many waterways creating an attractive destination with plenty for visitors to discover and explore.

Champions of tomorrow look on at the 2009 OAMPS Australian Youth Championship - OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2009 - Laura Baldwin Click Here to view large photo

by Laura Baldwin

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