Will Dargaville (AUS) is the new World Champion at Youth Match Racing. The crew from Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club sailed their last “duel in paradise” against their fellow countrymen from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
“It is a wonderful win against a crew that we know well and that we thought better than us… until now.”
Will Dargaville, Sarah Parker, Josh Dawson and James Farquharson are Match Race World Champions (under 23 years). Once over the finishing line, they leapt into the water, followed by their coach, Tom Spithill (Tom’s brother helms “Oracle”, America’s Cup winner 2015). The RPAYC crew beat Harry Price, Angus Williams and Ben Robinson in three matches.
Robin Follin and his crew of Marine Boudot, Germain Gaultier and Bruno Mourniac (France) take third place. In the Petit Final, they beat the local New Caledonian crew of Cyril Fortin, Kim Goetz and Jeremy Picot by two matches to none. A third place that is not really what they hoped for. This morning they said they were looking forward to “eating some kangaroo”.
The New Caledonians taking fourth place was quite unexpected at a world championship. A very good performance, but tainted with disappointment, nonetheless. Leading two races to one, and leading in the fourth match, Will Dargaville, more experienced at this level of the sport, finally caught up with them.
– Matthias Balagny
