BYS Sailors Around The Country

While summer is a hive of activity at the club, it’s also titles season with many of our sailors travelling to compete in events around the county.
The ILCA 2023 Open and Youth Championships were held at Georges River Sailing Club (NSW) at the beginning of January with BYS youth sailors Hamish Cowell and Lucas James competing in the ILCA 6, and Angus McIntyre in the ILCA 4. Both Hamish and Lucas made the gold fleet for the finals sailing well in a very competitive fleet. Angus won four of the ten heats to finish 2^nd overall in the ILCA 4. There’s a terrific regatta write up on the ILCA website.

The boys had an awesome trip away with some challenging heavy weather conditions and sharp Botany Bay chop. After a week off, Lucas and Angus will be competing in another big regatta –  Sail Melbourne, this time with both in the ILCA 6.  We wish both Hamish and Angus all the very best in the demanding, competitive class that is The Laser.  Good Luck Boys! Hike Hike Hike!

(Centre Image: Hamish Cowell – Right Image: Angus McIntyre)

Aero sailor Paul Rogers ventured west to compete in the RS Aero Australian Championship sailing a 7 rig at Largs Bay Sailing Club (SA) and Sabre sailors Kirsten Binns-Smith and Geoff Smith boarded the ferry for Tassie to compete in the Sabre Australian Championship at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.

(Left: Kirsten Binns-Smith – Right: Geoff Smith)

A little closer to home, the J/70s sailed the J/70 Victorian Championship at Sandringham Yacht Club over the weekend with Skyhook (skippered by Ethan O’Brien), Jumpin’ Jack Flash (skippered by Martin Kudnig), Spike (with the BYS Youth Team skippered by Daisy Laing) and Sequel (skippered by Tony Landgren)) all representing BYS.  First Place went to Vamos from Sydney. Team Skyhook placed 3rd in the Corinthian division with team Spike skippered by Daisy Laing finishing 6th. The Australian Championship begins on Thursday and we wish all BYS Teams the best of luck.

Team Skyhook (Hannah Danks, Ed Warner, Sam Backwell, Ethan O’Brien, Harriette Singh)

John Lindholm, Ned Lindholm, Callum Burns and Ken McKenzie are in Perth sailing on the Swan River. The Australian Contender Championship was held from 9 – 13 January at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, and the 50^th International Contender Class World Championship runs 15 – 20 January. With the Aussie titles used as a pre-worlds event our sailors are mixing it with some of the best; won by Mark Bulka, first BYS sailor Callum Burns placed a respectable fifth. At the moment John Lindholm is the leading BYS boat in the worlds, currently placed ninth.

BYS sailors Dawn (Way2Go), Debbie and Kate (both Yacht Rock) have all been working hard while enjoying the beautiful weather up north. Having gained confidence and experience, first through the BYS SheSails program and then club racing, the women challenged themselves to complete their Day Skipper certificate. The course entailed 60 hours of online study and five days on board a yacht with intensive sail training.

“It has been very challenging but we are all feeling proud of our accomplishment,” said Debbie Goodin who skippers Yacht Rock.

Day Skippers – Dawn, Kate & Debbie

There are still plenty of events happening through the second half of January; good luck to our sailors competing at Sail Melbourne, the J/70 Australian Championship, Sail Peninsula and Festival of Sails.  Have we missed a regatta you’ve attended? Contact the Sailing Office to let us know where you’ve been!

Michelle, Head of Sailing and Andrew Wilkinson, Training & Development