Matt Jerwood, from the South of Perth Yacht Club, clings to the top spot at the end of the second day of the Warren Jones International Youth Regatta. Jerwood and his Redline Racing Team have eleven wins and one loss.
Sam Gilmour, another local skipper, is still in second place on the leader board, also with eleven wins, but he has two defeats in his scoreline. These two skippers look to be clear favourites to get into the semi-finals at the halfway stage of the second round robin, but below them the competition for the other two semi-final places is tightening up.
Last year’s winner, Chris Steele from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, is currently in third place with eight wins and four losses. Also making a strong bid for a semi-finals place is Murray Jones from Sydney’s Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, he has eight wins and six losses.
Just outside the cut at the moment is the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s Jordan Reece, who has a 7 – 7 scoreline. Also in with a strong chance of making the semis is Lachy Gilmour on a 6 – 6 scoreline.
The day started with a fickle and shifty easterly breeze for the first two flights of the day, but in the afternoon a robust seabreeze kicked in to test the crews’ stamina.
The regatta, is in memory of Warren Jones, who was the mastermind behind Australia II’s historic victory in the America’s Cup way back in 1983, before any of these skippers were born
The event is organised by Swan River Sailing, and is sailed in their fleet of Foundation 36 yachts, and runs until Friday 5th February.
– John Roberson
