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Youth Sailors Shine in East Coast Championship

13 June 2023



Over the long weekend, 20 youth sailors represented the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron at the East Coast Championship. The regatta was held at Georges River 16′ Sailing Club from Saturday 10 – Monday 12 June.

The three day event witnessed a remarkable display of determination and skill, as our young sailors negotiated the frustrating lack of wind. Despite these challenging racing conditions, these promising athletes showcased their resilience, adaptability and unwavering passion for the sport.



The regatta, which brought together some of the most talented youth sailors across the East Coast, was expected to be a spectacle of high-speed racing and fierce competition. However, nature had other plans as a calm weather system settled over the Sydney region, leaving the race course glassy.

Undeterred by the lack of wind, competitors adjusted their strategies and employed their light air knowledge to maximise every opportunity that presented. They also had a lot of fun doing it.

Youth Sailor Lauren Tandy commented, “This regatta was challenging for our Optimist fleet due to the lack of wind on all three days, with the Intermediate and Open fleet having combined starts. However, this regatta was definitely one to remember because of all the fun and amazing memories made. Congratulations to the Greenies for sailing in their first regatta and getting some amazing results.

She added, “Finally, I’d like to give a huge shout out to Xavier McLachlan for being an amazing coach throughout the weekend. Another special shoutout goes to Otto the Otter: the Opti mascot.”



Thank you to the coaches, parents and regatta officials who made this event possible.

The regatta results are available here.

For more photos of the event by Andrew Lee, please click here.