This year’s World Sailing Nation Cup is underway on the waters of the 34th America’s Cup, San Francisco Bay with CYCA representing Australia in the Open’s division. This World Sailing Grade 1 match racing event is contest bi-annually with the CYCA having a long history with the event, with YSA sailors finishing in 2nd place in the Open Division in 2009, 2011 & 2015, whilst in the women’s division, Olivia Price, Nina Curtis, Haylee Outteridge & Rayshele Martin won in 2011.
Hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club, using their Club’s fleet of J22s, 19 teams across the two divisions (Open and Women’s) are competing, representing 13 different countries.
In September last year, YSA sailors James Hodgson, Ryan Wilmot, Harry Hall & Charlie Gundy qualified to represent Australia in the 2019 Nations Cup Final after winning the Australian Match Racing National Championship 3-1 over DownUnder Racing.
Over the past two days the event has experience two completely different days of competition, with the opening day delivering a typical ‘Frisco’ day with a building westerly breeze, peaking at 30 knots late in the afternoon. However, Day Two saw a light and fickle westerly breeze fill in, once again testing the 19 teams on the water.
After Day 2, the first round robin has been complete with Australia sitting in third position, finishing with 5 wins and 3 losses, which sees the team qualify directly for the Top 6 knock-out stage.
Tomorrow will see the women’s division complete their round robin and the start of the knock-out stages. Racing can be followed here on the St. Francis Yacht Club website.
