Women’s Representative Team competes in 2019 John Messenger Match Race Regatta in Sydney

An MYC Women’s Representative team, comprising Danielle Kennedy, Tanya Kelly, Kristen Davidson, Kerry Lorimer and Carmen Barney (from RQYS) competed in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s John Messenger Women’s Match Racing regatta in Sydney over the weekend of August 31 – September 1.

The annual memorial regatta saw eight teams from QLD, NSW and NZ competing in the CYCA’s Elliott 7 keelboats in the World Sailing Grade 4 event.

The weather was atrocious for the practice day on the Friday afternoon, with strong, cold wind and heavy rain, but it improved over Saturday, with moderate 10-16 knot southerlies, to sunshine and an 8-12 knot breeze on Sunday.

Having not sailed together previously as a team, and with very limited match-racing experience, the MYC team was looking for learning rather than prizes, but still managed to win five races over the two days, which was five more than in 2018!

“It was such a great opportunity for our team. We are really improving and looking forward to the Women’s Match Racing Nationals in October,” MYC’s helm, Tanya Kelly, said.

At the end of Day 1 and 40 races, three teams were in an unbreakable tie for first place. Sunday saw some excellent tactical racing with the CYCA’s India Howard and her team finally taking out top honours, defeating RPAYC’s Juliet Costanzo 2-0 in the finals and beating out their RNZYS rivals.

The regatta is a lead-in event to the Australian Women’s Match Racing Championships which will be hosted by the MYC from October 10 to 13, 2019.