Angus Cameron from Western Australia achieved an impressive record by winning five out of six races at the 2026 Australian Youth Match Racing Championship, held at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club. This performance secured him a place in the semi-finals.
Cameron’s victories included significant wins against top competitors Ben Crafoord and James Hayhoe, bringing his total wins to nine. This performance established the top four competitors ahead of Sunday’s knockout racing, with Crafoord leading the qualifiers with 16 wins from 18 matches along with Louis Tilly and Hayhoe also making the cut.
Starting the day tied with Digby Taylor from Mornington Yacht Club, who ended with six wins, Cameron overcame his opponents including Massimo Henderson and Fraser Baker to complete his five-win streak. The only loss for Cameron came against Tilly during the third round robin.
Cameron’s win against Crafoord interrupted a notable streak of nine consecutive wins for the CYCA skipper, which had begun on Friday. Crew member Eleanor Green remarked on the regatta providing a valuable opportunity for the newer team to measure their skills against established competitors, highlighting the diverse conditions they faced.
Ethany Bates, another crew member, noted the shift from fleet racing to match racing introduced new routines and challenges, calling it more engaging and dynamic.
Crafoord managed to recover, winning his remaining matches against Henderson, Tilly, and Hayhoe, attributing the team’s success to their solid performance and adaptability to various conditions aboard the RS21 keelboats.
Despite some races left on the schedule, Tilly and Hayhoe opted out of their match as it wouldn’t impact their advancement to the finals. Tilly had a strong day overall, prevailing against Baker, Cameron, and Taylor before falling to Crafoord, acknowledging the high standard set by Crafoord throughout the event.
As the round-robin phase concluded, three teams were eliminated: Taylor with six wins, and Henderson and Baker with three each. The finals on Sunday will feature the semi-finals, final, and petit final, along with races determining positions five to seven.
The championship is supported by Garner Marine Services and Bull Sails, hosted by Royal Geelong Yacht Club in conjunction with Australian Sailing.
By Harry Fisher, Down Under Sail
#YouthMatchRacing #SailingChampionship #royalgeelongyachtclub #MatchRacing
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