Congratulations to Youth Sailing Academy Members Finn Tapper, Will Sargent, Cole Tapper, Jess Tavener and Ryan Ewings, who delivered victory for the CYCA in the 2022 Harken Youth International Match Racing Cup.

Fresh from his victory in the 2022 Hardy Cup a week earlier, Finn guided the CYCA team to victory in Auckland, beating Robbie McCutcheon (representing the host, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron) 2-0 in the final.

Finn and his crew finished top of the overall standings after the Round Robin, only losing one of their 13 races.

They then breezed through the quarter-final and semi-final with an unblemished record, before securing the title to continue their international dominance.

“It’s awesome to have won the Harken International,” Finn said. “It’s a big event for us and to win it is super exciting.

“Today was tough racing. The tide had a big effect on the race course, as it always does in Auckland.

“Having quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals back-to-back made it a big day, but to come away with the win was really exciting.”

The CYCA’s second team, led by Jack Littlechild (with Hugo Stoner, Charlotte Alexander, Hamish Vass and Chelsea Williams), had another impressive regatta, finishing fourth for the second time in as many weeks.

After closing out the Round Robin in third position, Jack and his crew beat Max McLachlan to set up a semi-final with Robbie McCutcheon.

The CYCA team twice fought back in that semi, but were beaten 3-2, before going on to lose the petit final to Jed Cruickshank 2-0.

Congratulations to both teams on representing the CYCA with such distinction.

Next up for them is the CentrePort Youth International, which takes place from 26-29 May in Wellington.

Photos courtesy of Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.