The Warren Jones International Youth Match Racing Regatta draws an experienced group of under 25 year old match racers to Perth in January each year. In its seventh year, with the trophy showing three wins each to New Zealand and Australia, the competition would again be fierce. Three kiwi teams crossed the Tasman to take on seven Australian teams to break the tie on the trophy.
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia was represented by Evan Walker and his team of Will Ryan, Ted Hackney, Rob Scrivenor, Mark Gorman and Michael Edmonds. The team have come together for the event and although starting slowly in round robin one, they polished their performance to have a more successful round robin two, finishing in fourth place after the double round robin. The top four boats then proceeded through to the finals on day four of the regatta.
With Phil Robertson (RNZYS) finishing in first place, it was his choice to select his opponent for the finals. He chose to sail against one of the local WA skippers, Rob Gibbs (RPYC), leaving Walker to take on another WA local and the number one ranked skipper in the regatta, Keith Swinton (SoPYC). Robertson defeated Gibbs, 3-0 in their semi while Walker and Swinton went to four races, with Walker defeating Swinton 3-1. Racing was very tight between the two, with match four recording a margin of 1 second to Walker.
With the breeze dropping out at lunchtime, the AP was raised while the ‘doctor’ filled in from the SE at 12-15 knots. This delayed the start of the finals until 3.30pm local time and the race committee advised that the finals would best of 3 instead of best of 5 matches.
Gibbs started impressively and went on to defeat Swinton 2-0 in the petit final while Robertson and Walker made more of a battle for 1st and 2nd place in the regatta. The first match was being dominated by Walker until the last windward mark when his boat found a couple of lighter patches on the course enabling Robertson to peg back the five boat length deficit to be right on Walker’s transom. The lead changed several times on the last leg with aggressive tactics by both skippers resulting in Walker receiving a double penalty for a collision with Robertson. Robertson took the match comfortably while Walker did his penalty turns.
In Match two, Walker got one back on Robertson, inflicting a penalty on him in the prestart and with close racing, Robertson was unable make enough ground to take his penalty and Walker took the match by 12 seconds. Unfortunately Walker had been penalized 0.5 points for the collision with Robertson in Match one and now had to win the next two races to defeat Robertson.
One more match to Robertson would be the decider not only for the Warren Jones Trophy but for the trans-Tasman battle that seems to go with this regatta. Aggression was at a maximum from the time of entry and unfortunately Robertson won out and Walker started the race with a penalty. With an even start, both boats continued their aggressive tactics around the course. Walker was able to wipe off his penalty when Robertson carried him off the course on the second downwind leg and both boats came back to the mark without spinnakers. Robertson was able to maintain his lead on Walker and took the deciding race by 14 seconds.
Robertson not only won the Warren Jones Trophy but invitations to a Grade 1 World Tour Qualifier in Spain in April and the World Tour Event (Danish Open) in September with $7000 to assist with their travel costs.
Final Placings:
1st Phil Robertson (RNZYS)
2nd Evan Walker (CYCA)
3rd Robert Gibbs (RPYC)
4th Keith Swinton (SoPYC)
5th Reuben Corbett (RNZYS)
6th Stuart Pollard (RSYS)
7th Brett Sharpe (RFBYC)
8th Peter Nicholas (RFBYC)
9th Nicky Souter (RPAYC)
10th Matthew Steven (RPNYC)
Walker will have a chance to even the score next week with both skippers competing in the Hardy Cup at Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. Walker will defend his title as winner of the Hardy Cup in 2008. Racing starts in this event on Monday 2 February and concludes on Thursday 5 February.
