Sunday 28 February 2010

Perfect score to Lucinda Whitty in Marinassess Women's Match Racing Regatta


CYCA YSA Women’s Squad members, Josie Roper (green) and Keats Thomson(blue) in a prestart today. Image copyright CYCA staff.

by Jennifer Crooks

With perfect weather conditions for match racing on Sydney Harbour today, Lucinda Whitty (RSYS) and her crew of Nicky Souter and Katie Pellew achieved the perfect score with eight wins and no losses in the first day of racing of the Marinassess Women’s Match Racing Regatta.

Whitty’s closest race today was against fellow Australian Sailing Development Squad team member, Nina Curtis (RPAYC) who trailed Whitty around the entire course only to roll over her on the final downwind leg. In her excitement at gaining the lead, Curtis gybed too close to Whitty and received a penalty within one boat length of the line giving another win to Whitty.

Amanda Scrivenor (CYCA) and her crew of Olivia Price and Angela Farrell also had a good day only dropping one race in round one to Whitty. Three teams in this regatta are from the Youth Sailing Academy Women’s Squad who have been training on Friday evenings since October.

The youngest skipper in the regatta, Keats Thomson (CYCA) is from this squad and sailed in her first regatta as a skipper today. She finished the day with three wins and some very slim losses to her credit. She was pleased with her results today and after getting over her ‘first regatta’ nerves early, she settled down to have a very successful day.


Match of the day, Nina Curtis (yellow spinnaker) rolls over Lucinda Whitty just before the finish. Image copyright CYCA staff.

Race Officer, Denis Thompson, pushed through the program into round robin two before we left the water today, completing forty races and leaving eight flights to be completed tomorrow. With the north easterly not predicted to come in until lunchtime tomorrow, the shorter program should take some pressure off the race committee when starting day two of the regatta.

Placings at the end of round robin one

Lucinda Whitty (RSYS/ASDS) 8 wins-0 losses
Amanda Scrivenor (CYCA/ASDS) 7-1
Silja Lehtinen (NJK, Finland) 6-2
Nina Curtis (RPAYC/ASDS) 5-3
Keats Thomson (CYCA) 3-5
Josie Roper (CYCA) 3-5
Stephanie Strong (SYC) 2-6
Stephanie Doyle (RPAYC) 1-7
Ali Sutherland (CYCA) 1-7

The Marinassess Women’s Match Racing Regatta is sponsored by CYCA member and Marinassess Managing Director John Messenger.

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia

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