Waitemata Harbour delivered a weekend of thrilling match racing as New Zealand’s top youth teams battled it out for a coveted place at the 2025 Youth Match Racing World Championships. Hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) on 10–11 May 2025, the trials brought together eight of the country’s most promising under-23 crews, each hoping to secure the sole New Zealand entry to the World Sailing event in Gdynia, Poland this July.
After two intense days of double round robin and knock-out racing in Elliott 7m keelboats, it was Waitemata Racing, skippered by Josh Hyde, who came out on top. Backed by a talented crew of Sofia Higgott, Zach Fong, Mason Mulcahy and Cody Coughlan, Hyde delivered a dominant final performance against Ethan Fong’s Quest Racing, winning 3–0 and punching their ticket to the world championship. Hyde indicated:
“This result means a lot to our team. Having the opportunity to return to the Youth Worlds for a second year is huge for us, and we’re excited to have another shot at bringing home the world title. Winning the trials has been a real lift – it’s proof that all the hard work and training we’ve put in has paid off.”
The regatta featured a strong line-up of youth teams:
Waitemata Racing – Josh Hyde
VMG Racing – Noah Malpot
Quest Racing – Ethan Fong
Pressure Racing – Sam Scott
Worser Bay Boating Club – Wilbur Staney
Mastercard YTP (1) – Charley Cates
Mastercard YTP (2) – Robbie Wooldridge
Wai Knot Racing – Sam Clarke
The format followed a four-stage progression: a round robin involving all the teams, a double round robin for teams placing fifth to eighth, a knock-out semi-finals, followed by petit finals for third place, and the grand final. Hyde and Fong were standouts in the round robin phase, both dominating the fleet and advancing to the semi-finals alongside Malpot and Scott. Hyde opposed Scott as his semi-final, dispatching him 3–1. Fong went head-to-head with Malpot, winning the series 3–2. In the petit final, Malpot overcame Scott 2–1 to secure third place.
The racing was tight, the margins small, but Waitemata Racing stood tall throughout – a continuation of their strong 2024 season, which saw them finish fourth at the Youth Match Racing Worlds in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With more experience and growing synergy, they now look to improve on that result and aim squarely for gold in 2025.
The Youth Match Racing World Championships will be held from 21–27 July as part of Gdynia Sailing Days, a major event on the international sailing calendar. This year’s edition will welcome 16 teams – up from 12 in 2024 – and be sailed in RS21 keelboats, which provide a fast and tactical platform, placing emphasis squarely on crew performance and race strategy.
Crews must consist of four or five sailors, with at least one female and one male, and must all be under 23 years of age as of 31 December 2026. There’s also a 350kg combined crew weight limit, keeping racing fair and competitive.
“Gdynia is Poland’s sailing capital. There is no better place for the young stars of match racing to compete. We are very confident that the city and the Polish Yachting Association will deliver an exceptional event and inspire even more young sailors to experience the exciting discipline of the match racing format.”—World Sailing’s Director of Events Jim Morris.
Tomasz Chamera, Championship Coordinator, added: “This is an incredible opportunity for young sailors from around the world to compete at a high level and a great chance to showcase the talent of the next generation.”
For Josh Hyde and the Waitemata Racing crew, it’s the next step in a packed international season. With the Governor’s Cup in Los Angeles coming directly after the Worlds, this campaign is about more than just one result – it’s about building a competitive edge on the international match racing circuit and keeping the New Zealand sailing legacy alive.
If an additional spot becomes available, Ethan Fong’s Quest Racing team – as runners-up – may still have the opportunity to join the Kiwi contingent in Poland. For now, though, all eyes are on Waitemata Racing as they gear up to take on the world.
