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SAILING - Australian Youth Match Racing Championship 2019 01/10/2019 (Photo by Andrea Francolini)

Scramble for semi-finals at AYMRC Day 2

It was another spectacular spring day in Sydney for Day 2 of the Australian Youth Match Racing Championship at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia with a further 8 flights completed.

The CYCA’s James Hodgson continued his undefeated scorecard through the entire double round robin qualifying stage, with another 7 wins today to secure him to top spot for the semi-finals. The win also allows Hodgson to sit out of Stage 2, which sees the remaining 6 teams complete a third round robin to determine the final 3 spots for the semi-finals.

Racing started on time with a stronger sea breeze forecasted than yesterday which today started at 12-15 knots and built to 23 knots mid-afternoon. The race course moved slightly North today with Clark Island becoming a key decision point on the race course for teams but provided an ideal vantage point for spectators to view the racing.

With Hodgson out and resting till the semi-finals, Finn Tapper from the CYCA now leads the trailing pack. Tapper today had another few close races and is only 1 point clear of Will Sargent who is showing impressive skills in the Elliott 7s compared to the hours he has spent sailing them.

Sargent remains in third position on 8-7 with RPAYC’s entry skippered by Alistair Read in fourth on 7-8. These two now having a bit of a buffer zone back to fifth place Hugo Stoner from the CYCA, who sits on 5-10 with four races to go.

Stoner will need a strong start tomorrow when he is matched up against Read. This will be a defining moment in both team’s event, as if Stoner loses this race, it almost guarantees Sargent and Read a place in the semi-finals baring collision penalties.

If he does manage to win this race, he will come within one point of Read for the final semi-final spot.

Finn Niemeier from the Northern Territory is also not yet completely out of a possible semi-final appearance but will need to win every race to give himself a chance at that opportunity.

Racing will continue tomorrow at 1200hrs with the intention to complete the third round robin and commence the semi-finals. Racing will again take place in the vicinity of Clark Island, with spectators kept right in the action as Sydney shines. Follow racing live at www.cyca.com.au/live-results

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