The picturesque, flat waters of McCrae Yacht Club on the Mornington Peninsula were alive with the exhilarating buzz of dinghy foiling this past weekend, as the Victorian leg of the Ronstan Junior Foiling Cup™ for 2024/2025 took centre stage.
On March 1st and 2nd, a fleet of enthusiastic sailors as young as 9 years old and with an average age of just 13, descended upon McCrae, some travelling from as far as Cairns in Queensland. Competitors, ranging in weight from a mere 29kgs, represented a diverse array of sailing classes including Optimist, Minnow, Sabre, ILCA, 125, and Pacer, all eager to experience the thrill of foiling on the Nikki Foiling Dinghy.
The Ronstan Junior Foiling Cup™ is designed to introduce young sailors to the exciting world of foiling, providing them with hands-on learning and competitive racing through a round-robin format. Remarkably, every sailor achieved foiling on their very first day, some after only a few minutes, a testament to their dedication and the accessibility of the Nikki Foiling Dinghy.
With winds being light at times and up to 22 knots on both days, it really showcases the versatile nature of the Nikki Foiling Dinghy. It gives these junior sailors the ability to sail the boat first in displacement mode before moving through a stable low flying mode and then to fully flying. It allows junior sailors to progress very quickly into full foiling with very little experience.
These young sailors displayed exceptional skill, unwavering enthusiasm and were able to sail all day in varying conditions, maximizing time on the water and thoroughly enjoying the experience. The excitement on the on-water support boat change-over was incredible; The support and encouragement they gave each other was representative of this event as a whole. In fact, the challenge was persuading them to return to shore! The sheer joy of foiling kept them on the water, with wide smiles and a relentless desire for more foiling time.
The fun wasn’t confined to the water with cricket and soccer matches breaking out during lunch breaks, and a delicious BBQ provided by McCrae Yacht Club on Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday, after the final races had been completed, the event received a significant boost of inspiration with visits from none other than Multiple America’s Cup winner Glenn Ashby and Laura Harding, co-helm of Andoo Team Australia Challenge for the Puig Women’s America’s Cup AC40’s and Australian Sailing Team 49erFX skipper campaigning for the LA 2028 Olympics. Their presence further motivated the young sailors, providing invaluable insights and encouragement to have fun with their sailing.
“What a brilliant weekend!” said Scott Watson, Commodore of McCrae Yacht Club. “The kids were foiling almost immediately on the Nikki – a really well resolved and robust platform for first flights and lots of smiles. It was clearly a lot of fun for everyone and we had to drag the kids off the water! Some said they’d had the ‘best day ever’. The volunteers were equally pumped by the infectious energy and excitement of the kids, who cheered each other on all weekend. 11/10!”
The Ronstan Junior Foiling Cup™ not only provides a platform for competition but also serves as a vital learning experience, equipping junior sailors with the skills and confidence to excel in the sport. The event’s success highlights the growing popularity of foiling among junior sailors and the bright future of the sport.
The Junior Foiling Cup™ team would like to thank the amazing McCrae Yacht Club for their outstanding hospitality, and to all the volunteers and families from neighbouring clubs who contributed their time and efforts to the event’s success.
A huge thankyou to all the Sponsors for their incredible and continued support for these events around Australia: Ronstan, Forward WIP, Doyle Sails, CST Composites, Australian Sailing, Skeeta Watersports, Ocean-Racer and Fyreside.
Congratulations to:
1st place Overall – Acklin Stent, Optimist sailor from Mount Martha Yacht Club/Mornington Yacht Club
2nd place Overall- Flynn Beck, ILCA 4 sailor from Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club
3rd place Overall – James Ingram, ILCA 4 sailor from Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron
1st Place Female – Frances Gibson, Optimist sailor from Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club/ Sandringham Yacht Club
More Junior Foiling Cup™ events are on the horizon, not just in Australia, but other countries worldwide, so keep an eye out for an event near you!
Interested in hosting a Junior Foiling Cup™? Contact juniorfoiling@gmail.com.
https://www.facebook.com/juniorfoiling
Article by “Junior Foiling Cup™ / Nikki Sailing Association of Australia Inc.”
All Photos are credited to ”Ronstan Junior Foiling Cup™ / Photo: © Shane BAKER”
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