Australian 420 Championship title down to the final race
After a successful 2011 for Britain’s youth sailors entries for the 2012 RYA Volvo Youth National Championships, the premier event on the RYA Youth Racing calendar, are now open.
After a series of near perfect 420 sailing conditions out of the Moreton Bay Boat Club, the Australian 420 National Championship for 2011-12 was decided on the final day of racing.
Hosted by Moreton Bay Boat Club, Queensland, Australia from 27 December-2 January the 2011-2012 Championship attracted a highly competitive 32 boat fleet, with teams from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore.
With a narrow points lead between the top two placed Australians it came down to the final race. With a clear points lead over the Australian teams, Singapore's Choy and Tang sailed conservatively in both heats to secure their overall win in the Championships.
However deeper into the fleet, Western Australia's Carrie Smith/Ella Clarke battled it out with fellow statesman Morrison/Walker with only a four point difference separating the pairs.
Winning the first race 11 of the day was South Australian girls team Stokes/Stephens who showed some great speed in the lighter conditions leading from the first rounding to the finish.
Race 12 was the decider for the Championships and Smith/Clarke left nothing to chance leading off the start and putting distance between their competitors, coming around in top position and proving their superior speed against the fleet.
Finishing the race with a clear lead pushed the young Australian girls into first Australian team overall, winning them the Championship title. Coming in third overall and second Australian team was Western Australian Men’s team Morrison/Walker, narrowly defeating Victorians Klemens/Olvier who took out first Youth Boys.
The fleet now head to Brisbane for the OAMPS Australian Youth Championships at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, from 6-10 January 2012.
Other Info ...
• Event Website
• Full Results
Image: Carrie Smith/Ella Clarke © Andrew Gough
