Sailing News
RPAYC Win World Youth Championships
RPAYC’s Will Dargaville (skipper) Josh Dawson, Sarah Parker and James Farquharson have won the World Youth Match Racing
Championships in New Caledonia.
After five days of racing RPAYC defeated teams from USA, Japan, Denmark and France to qualify for the finals against the only
other Australian team from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
Dargaville, who was well aware of the CYCA Team’s skill having competed against them in numerous occasions took the win
beating them three races to one in the finals.
“It was great to go against a crew who we know really well, we know how strong they are and it was good to get the win.” Said
Dargaville.
To be selected for the event a skipper must be in the top 50 Open Men’s Match Racing World Rankings. Dargaville, who won the
2015 Match Racing Championship in New Caledonia and the Hardy Cup match racing event held on Sydney Harbour in 2016
boosted his rankings and was selected to represent Australia.
Dargaville and the team have been working extremely hard with the RPAYC’s elite Youth Development Program. Club Coach, Tom
Spithill has praised their win from their dedication to their training.
“This team has worked incredibly hard over many years in preparation for this moment.” Said Spithill.
“It’s great to see them achieve their dreams as they are awesome people, they have earned it.” Spithill added.
The Youth Development Program, which has produced Olympians and America’s Cup sailors, pushes participants in some of the
toughest condit ions to sail in. From pre-dawn winter morning sessions to gruelling fitness training in the gym. On top of that,
majority of the participants, in this case all of Dargaville’s team are studying full time at University.
“I’m really proud of the team, I push them in all types of conditions, these guys study as well and some travel long distances to
train at the Club (RPAYC)” Said Spithill.
The team have returned from New Caledonia and are back into the grind with a solid schedule of training ahead of them.
The main focus now for the Youth Development participants is the RPAYC’s annual HARKEN International Youth Match Racing
Championships held on Pittwater in late November.