Warren Jones: Evan Walker Expects a Tough Regatta

by John Roberson

Evan Walker, the winner of last week’s Colin Mullins International Youth Regatta sees a tough job ahead if he is to repeat the success in this week’s Warren Jones International Youth Regatta, with more hot young teams arriving he sees a step up in the level of competition.

Talking after his Colin Mullins Trophy victory on Saturday afternoon, he said, “the guys who are coming next week, that didn’t race this week, Seve (Jarvin), (William) Tiller, Peter Nicholas and Dave Chapman, they are going to slot in up near the top, so with the two guys we had close racing with today, that’s six teams that could be in the top four, so it’s not going to be easy.”

However his win last week has certainly boosted his confidence, “we’re glad we came over early because we’re a whole level ahead of where we would have been, if we get some consistent winds I think we’ll be comfortable.”

Though most of his sailing at the moment is on 18 Foot Skiffs in Sydney Harbour, he would like to further his match racing career with a season in Europe.

New Zealand skipper William Tiller won the Warren Jones Regatta last year, and the previous year was on the winning crew with skipper Phil Robertson, so is no stranger to the boats or the location, and has had a swift rise up the world rankings in the past twelve months, now sitting at 35th place.

Close behind Tiller on the ranking ladder is Sydneysider David Chapman who is currently 37th in the world, he will be desperate to improve on his 9th place in last year’s event.

Seve Jarvin, another 18 Foot Skiff sailor from Sydney, has twice finished third in the Warren Jones Regatta in 2005 and 2006, and although well down the world rankings will be a tough competitor.

Peter Nicholas, from Perth’s Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, has skippered a boat in the event three times before, with eighth places in ’07 and ’09, but finishing a hard fought fourth last year, he is keen to keep moving up.

The Warren Jones International Youth Regatta was created in memory of the man who did so much to motivate the crew of Australia II, when they won the America’s Cup in 1983, he was also a live-wire in the Perth business community, and a great supporter of youth programmes of all sorts.

The event is being hosted this year by the Royal Perth Yacht Club, and sailed in the Swan River’s Matilda Bay, using Swan River Sailing’s fleet of Foundation 36 yachts.

Competitors: (Skipper, Country, Club, Ranking)

William Tiller, NZL, RNZYS, 35
David Chapman, AUS, RSYS, 37
Peter Nicholas, AUS, RFBYC, 63
David Gilmour, AUS, RFBYC, 95
Evan Walker, AUS, CYCA, 110
Matthew Steven, NZL, RPNYC, 126
Tristan Brown, AUS, RFBYC, 190
Kosaku Yoshida, JPN, JYMA, 302
Seve Jarvin, AUS, CYCA, 649

Note from SailRaceWin: Peter Nicholas is back at the helm of Freshie Racing for the Warren Jones. Will Tiller (NZL) is younger than his Full Metal Jacket Racing team crew, and so may well be without his regular team at the event. Seve Jarvin is the leading light in Sydney Harbour skiff sailing, as helm/skipper of Gotta Love It 7; it will be interesting to see how he gets on match racing. Evan Walker, also a skiff sailor, has, by contrast, done a lot of match racing, and is keen on doing the European match racing events this year. Both David Chapman and Peter Nicholas travelled to several match racing events overseas (beyond Australia/New Zealand) last year.

Warren Jones Youth International Match Racing