9:02 AM Sat 10 Sep 2011 GMT
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'Students will get the opportunity to go yacht racing in the RPAYC fleet - photo by Damian Devine - 2011 RPAYC University Match Racing Championship'
Tom Spithill
Click Here to view large photo
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The 2011 RPAYC University Match Racing Championship to be hosted by the RPAYC over the 23rd & 24th September, has attracted some of Sydney's top university sailors. The University of Technology Sydney, University of New South Wales and University of Sydney have confirmed participation in the inaugural edition of the Championship.
With just days to go for the event it is shaping up as the most competitive university match racing championship to hit Sydney shores.
Sailors to watch out for this year include - Jay Griffin from UTS will be the man to beat. He is currently ranked 66th according to the ISAF match racing world rankings. He has won various regattas across Australia and New Zealand. Andrea Green from UNSW is currently ranked 557th in the world and has performed well at various youth match racing championships held in Sydney and has even been part of two Rolex Sydney to Hobart's with Pretty Fly III.
The event has two women skippers with Josephine Roper from University of Sydney ranked 175th in the International women's match racing ranking's and also made her debut in offshore racing participating in the Audi Sydney-Gold coast race. Tara McCall from the University of New South Wales is 220th in the International women's match racing rankings . She was a crew of the silver medal team that won the 2010 World University Match Racing Championships at Greece and represented Australia at the 2011 World University Games in China.
The skippers have some international and top Australian sailors crewing for them. Like, triple youth world laser radial champion, Gabrielle King. Alex Paton who is crewing for Jessica's Watson's team 'Another Challenge', the youngest team to compete in the Sydney Hobart race's 66 year history. There are crews from different parts of the globe with strong sailing backgrounds from USA, GBR, FRA, DEN, and SIN just to name a few.
The 2011 RPAYC university match racing championships will be more than just another championship. The RPAYC are going all out to encourage students all over Sydney to experience Australia's favorite past time. On the 24th of September, RPAYC will give forty students an opportunity to go yacht racing and take part in an offshore race. There will also be opportunities for students to try out sailing during the event.
But there is more good news for university sailors who love speed! Skiffs Australia will be introducing and showing off the exciting 18 ft skiff on the same day. Their organisation is proud to support our championship and the development of sailing by inspiring the next generation. They are keen to meet young and enthusiastic top-level sailors at our event.
World-renowned yachting and water sport's photographer, Nicole Scott, will be joining us for the championship. Nicole is often spotted on yachts, boats, and helicopter's capturing some of Sydney's best yachting images during races like the Rolex Sydney Hobart and other blue ribbon yachting events. This is your chance to be captured in photos that appear in magazines all over Australia.
The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club are already prepared and geared up to receive many University students from Sydney for this exciting event on the 24th of September. Do not miss this great opportunity. Contact your university sailing club or RPAYC sailing office on 9998 3771 or
yachting@rpayc.com.au
on information how to be part of this event.
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Jay Griifin competing at the 2010 Harken International Youth MR Championships on Pittwater - pic by Tom Spithill - 2011 RPAYC University Match Racing Championship - Tom Spithill
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The ISAF graded RPAYC Match Racing championship is also officially now a sanctioned Australian University Sport event. We also welcome our new supporters Helly Hansen, Quantum, sailing Images.net and Skiffs Australia.
by Ajay Rau Devine
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