From tomorrow, Friday 29 November to 2 December, twelve of the world’s top youth match racing teams will converge on Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the 2024 World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship, hosted by Jeddah Yacht Club & Marina.
Located on the Red Sea coast, Jeddah Yacht Club & Marina has gained prominence as a leading sailing venue, having recently hosted the America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta. It was the only venue outside of Spain to host an America’s Cup regatta during the 37th America’s Cup cycle.
The event will feature the FarEast 28 racing keelboat, a One Design model that can reach speeds of 20 knots. The boat’s combination of high performance and a lightweight frame makes it ideal for inshore racing, accommodating teams of up to five members.
Australia will field a team led by Cole Tapper, who returns for his final youth World Championship campaign after a runner-up finish in 2023. Tapper will be joined by Jack Frewin, Chelsea Williams, Hamish Vass, and Joel Beashel. The team has already had a stellar year, claiming their third NSW Youth Match Racing Championship title in June, winning the prestigious 57th Governor’s Cup in California in July, and finishing second at the 2024 New Zealand Match Racing Championship in November, competing against 16 other teams.
Tapper, who also balanced his commitments with Andoo Team Australia for the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup, is eager to reclaim the title. “The competition at this level is incredibly tough, and I’m excited for the challenge,” Tapper said. “It’s been an amazing journey with my team, and we’ve been working hard to put ourselves in the best position to take the championship this year. We’re ready to give it our all in Jeddah.”
The Australian team is among the most successful in the World Championship, with three titles to its name (2017, 2019, and 2020) and silver medals in 2016 and 2023. Tapper came agonizingly close to winning last year, narrowly losing 2–3 to Ange Delerce of France, who will also be competing again this year. The team is determined to reclaim the World Championship title on this prestigious stage.
