A trip down memory lane- Youth Keelboat Program by James Hodgson
I would never have thought I’d have the sailing opportunities I have now had it not been for the MYC.
I started sailing in Hong Kong when I was eight and started racing at nine. From there I went into the Optimist class until 13 and represented Hong Kong at the Asian Sailing championships in Sri Lanka in 2012. The following year, after moving back to Queensland, I represented Australia at the same event in Japan.
After getting too big for the Optimist, I progressed to the 420 where I skippered for my first year with Klaus Lorenz and we came fourth in the nationals and youth nationals.
After two years of 420 campaigning at 14, I was too heavy to continue sailing in the youth dinghy pathway and fortunately found interest in match racing through the Mooloolaba Yacht Club.
I was introduced to MYC, mainly through Laurie Jarman and the school sailing competition, when it was in 505’s, which were then based at The Wharf. Soon after this, MYC introduced the Elliott 6’s through Tracey Johnstone and I became very interested in advancing my skills into small keelboats. I started off doing Rum Runners on Friday’s after school as often as I could, racing against some of the club members to enhance my skills as a small keelboat sailor. Then the MYC Youth program was formed, which I joined and learnt some new skills steering as well as crewing on the Elliot6 keelboats.
The first event I did after joining the youth program was with Mitch Kennedy at the Sail Mooloolaba Match Racing regatta in 2014. It was my first ever match racing regatta and I was very confused to how this format of sailing was raced, however I enjoyed every bit of it and soon found a new passion.
Being a youth member of the MYC has opened many doors widely and given me opportunities I would never of had thought possible.
The boats that the club makes available to the youth program to train on and the coaching the club has offered has been greatly beneficial to my sailing. The constant media and PR from the MYC youth program has paved the way for me to get recognised interstate and invited to represent the MYC at the top national youth match racing events.
Over the past two years the club has helped me and my great crews, mainly Ben Vercoe and Fergus Gillanders, to travel to regattas in Sydney and Perth as well as local regattas and I could not be more thankful for the effort that all MYC members and board members have given, not just to me but all the youth program.
Due to the great support, coaching and funding from MYC, I have been able to climb the ISAF World Match Racing rankings. Just turning 18, I am currently ranked 74th in the open rankings and am in the top 10 youth (Under 23) and third Australian youth.
The MYC youth program has also helped our Sunshine Coast school sailing programs and as a result I have been fortunate to helm the Matthew Flinders Anglican College team to wins in the past two Australian Schools Match Racing championships.
Through MYC I have also been introduced to Etchells and have enjoyed sailing with Trevor Martin in the past two Mooloolaba Australasians and hopefully this will lead to doing the Etchells World Championships at RQYS in 2018.
Currently, I am pursuing my dream of becoming a professional sailor. In 2017, I am helping coach the MYC youth program with Jordan Spencer who has a world of knowledge. I am aiming to compete in as many regattas this year and next in order for my experience and skills to continue expanding. I would love to continue to progress my way up the world and youth rankings until I am at the pinnacle of the sport and aim to capture the Australian youth number one spot and compete in the Youth World Match Racing Championship in the next couple of years.
Sailing has been a major part of my life ever since I started sailing in Hong Kong and it’s something I passionately enjoy.
Thanks to the MYC, our youth program and sponsors and all the members for providing the opportunity for young sailors such as myself to enjoy the experience of progressing from dinghies into larger keelboats.
Congratulations to MYC on its 50th year anniversary and many more years of developing youth sailors into long-term keelboat sailors.
PHOTOS
Dual Youth Match Racing World Champion James Hodgson
Where it all began – James Hodgson and his 2017 MYC youth match racing crew.