A fuller picture of the early racing reveals standout Kiwi control and tight tactical duels across the fleet.
The first two days of the Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship have now produced a clear picture of where the fleet stands, with the early rounds completed across a mix of tight, tactical conditions on Pittwater. As the opening flights settled, the New Zealand crews established themselves at the front while a handful of Australian sailors kept the pressure on in a regatta that already feels poised to tighten further.
Two Kiwi teams lead after opening day of the Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship
Early rounds settle, and Kiwi teams emerge on top
As the last of the opening round-robin flights concluded, New Zealander Samuel Scott’s team moved into the overall lead with a composed 8–1 (loosing only to Ben Crafoord), their best wins built from clean pre-starts and disciplined work at the marks. Fellow New Zealander, Robbie Wooldridge and his team, follows close behind on 7–2 (loosing only to Sam Scott and Ben Craaford), matching Scott’s tempo through most of the early exchanges and showing tidy control downwind.
The leading group is rounded out by New Zealander, Ethan Fong, and his team and Australian, James Hayhoe, both on 6–3, with Ben Crafoord next on 5–4. A tight mid-fleet trio of Daniel Kemp, Zach Fong, and Louis Tilly sit on 4–5, while Mia Lovelady picked up important early points.
Several of the later flights provided the sharpest storylines. In one of the most engaging matches of the opening round, Wooldridge led from the gun against Ethan Fong, rounding both marks with space to spare. Ethan refused to let the gap widen, closed in on the final downwind, and stayed close enough to prevent Wooldridge from clearing a penalty before the line. It was a well-timed squeeze that handed Ethan the point and set the tone for a competitive rivalry at the top of the table.
Another standout was New Zealander Zach Fong and his team’s comeback win against Australian, Louis Tilly. After clearing a penalty mid-race, Zach made the most of a stronger puff on the run, surged back into the lead, and protected his position through a tight gate rounding. Moments like this showed how small shifts in Pittwater’s breeze lines can rewrite any match in seconds.
McLachlan also produced one of the fleet’s sharpest downwind moves, rolling Ben Crafoord on the run before slipping inside at the gate and holding a disciplined left side on the next beat. It was the kind of assertive, confident sailing that adds real depth to the women’s competition this week.
| Skipper | DK | EF | JH | BC | SS | ML | RW | LT | HM | ZF | W | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Kemp | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 44% |
| Ethan Fong | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 67% |
| James Hayhoe | 1 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 67% |
| Ben Crafoord | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 56% |
| Samuel Scott | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 89% |
| Mia Lovelady | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11% |
| Robbie Wooldridge | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 78% |
| Louis Tilly | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 4 | 44% |
| Harriett McLachlan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Zach Fong | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 4 | 44% |
Day 2 opens with decisive moves in Round Robin 2
As Round Robin 2 began on Day 2, the breeze steadied and the fleet settled quickly back into close-match mode. Scott continued his commanding form with confident wins against Hayhoe and McLachlan, managing narrow margins with crisp manoeuvres at the gate. His match with Tilly was balanced at the first rounding, but Scott carried enough boat speed up the next beat to stay in charge.
Zach Fong built on his strong finish to the opening round, picking up early wins over fellow New Zealander Ethan Fong, Hayhoe, Lovelady, and Tilly. His match against Lovelady hinged on a well-timed gybe on the run, which gave him the decisive position heading into the final leg.
For Ethan Fong, Day 2 brought several sharp performances, including another well-earned win over Wooldridge. The pair were locked together at the top mark before Ethan created separation on the run and held the advantage at the gate. Wins over Hayhoe and Crafoord followed.
Wooldridge gathered steady points with wins over Hayhoe, Lovelady, and Zach Fong maintaining his top-three position despite a cluster of tight matches. His opening exchange with McLachlan showed good composure, building a small lead early and holding it through two clean roundings.
Kemp’s upward movement has added real tension to the mid-fleet. A strong, assertive start against Lovelady set up a confident win, and his clean work at the gate kept her from closing the gap during the final downwind. He has also won against Carfoord, Scott, and Tilly.
Both Lovelady and McLachlan continued to show moments of quality. Lovelady executed a smart win over Ethan Fong, while McLachlan’s earlier downwind strength remained a feature in several close contests.
Setting the stage for the middle of the regatta
With Scott firmly at the top and the New Zealand teams collectively performing well across both days, the regatta is shaping into a compact, competitive contest as Round Robin 2 continues. Pittwater’s shifting pressure lines are already rewarding decisive moves and punishing hesitation, and the tightening mid-fleet suggests a lively fight for semifinal spots.
A full Round Robin 2 standings update will follow once racing finishes later today.
