New Zealand’s youth match racers set the pace as two round robins reveal form, discipline and plenty of on-water drama.
The opening three days of the Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship have produced a compelling contest on Pittwater, with New Zealand’s rising match-racing talent asserting early control while a determined group of Australian sailors keep the pressure on. Across twenty-plus flights, the regatta has delivered tight pre-starts, punchy downwind exchanges and several momentum-changing moments that have sharpened the developing narrative at the top of the table.
With both Round Robin 1 and 2 now complete, the fleet hierarchy is clearer and the pathways to the semifinals are beginning to take shape.
New Zealand sets the benchmark after two round robins
After a composed opening day and a full Round Robin 1, Samuel Scott stamped his authority early and has carried that standard through to the end of Round Robin 2. His combined score of 14–4 (78 percent) reflects a sailor in rhythm: steady in the pre-start, measured at the marks and rarely rattled.
Close behind is fellow Kiwi Robbie Wooldridge, who sits on 13–5, maintaining the same consistency that defined his opening round. Together, Scott and Wooldridge have provided the backbone of New Zealand’s push, backing up their national match-racing pedigree with disciplined execution offshore.
Just behind them, and climbing, are Zach Fong and Ethan Fong, both on 11–7 (61 percent). Their Round Robin 2 surge has reshaped the regatta landscape, placing all four Kiwi skippers inside the top four positions and giving New Zealand a remarkable early grip on the standings.
How the early racing unfolded
Scott began the week with an authoritative 8–1 in Round Robin 1, his only loss coming in one of the later flights. Wooldridge’s 7–2 mirrored that quality, with both sailors winning their matches through clarity at the start and steady gains along the edges of the course.
The fleet, though, refused to settle quietly. Several late-day clashes sharpened the tone of the event. In one notable match, Wooldridge led from the start and held the advantage at both marks, only for Ethan Fong to close the gap downwind and force a tight finish that swung his way. It was one of several races that showed how quickly Pittwater’s breeze lines can compress leads and punish hesitation.
Zach Fong also delivered a memorable recovery against Louis Tilly in the first round, clearing a penalty mid-race before accelerating down a stronger pressure line to retake control. That moment proved to be a preview of his Round Robin 2 form.
Both women’s skippers, Mia Lovelady and Harriett McLachlan, also featured in some of the day’s best sequences. Lovelady’s downwind patience against Tilly produced a late gateside reversal, while McLachlan showed crisp handling in her early win over Crafoord, using superior angle on the run to roll into the lead.
| Skipper | DK | EF | JH | BC | SS | ML | RW | LT | HM | ZF | W/9 | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
Round Robin 2: shifts, pressure and a rising local threat
Round Robin 2 brought firmer breeze and even tighter margins. Scott again showed composure; his match against Tilly was balanced at the first rounding, but his upwind height on the second beat proved decisive.
Wooldridge remained strong, though a slip against Crafoord tightened the standings momentarily. Wins over McLachlan and the in-form Scott kept him close to Scott, and his starts remained among the cleanest in the fleet.
Ethan Fong and Zach Fong, however, were the story of Day 3.
Zach Fong’s Round Robin 2 run of victories: Kemp, Ethan Fong, Hayhoe, Crafoord, Lovelady, Wooldridge, Tilly, McLachlan, pushed him into genuine semifinal territory. His match management improved steadily, with several moments of smart positioning at the gate and strong separation on the runs.
Ethan Fong matched that aggression, again taking a high-quality win over Wooldridge in a gate-to-gate duel. Wins over Hayhoe and Crafoord showed his growing comfort converting narrow moments into results. Only a sharp start from local sailor Daniel Kemp interrupted his momentum.
Kemp deserves mention as the week’s most effective spoiler. Now sitting fifth overall on 10–8, the RPAYC sailor has beaten Ethan Fong, Hayhoe, Crafoord, Scott, Lovelady, Tilly, McLachlan, and Zach Fong, and at times has looked capable of pushing further up the standings.
| Skipper | DK | EF | JH | BC | SS | ML | RW | LT | HM | ZF | W/9 | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Kemp | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 67% |
| Ethan Fong | 0 | – | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 56% |
| James Hayhoe | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 22% |
| Ben Crafoord | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11% |
| Samuel Scott | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 67% |
| Mia Lovelady | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 56% |
| Robbie Wooldridge | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 67% |
| Louis Tilly | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | 3 | 56% |
| Harriett McLachlan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 1 | 22% |
| Zach Fong | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 8 | 78% |
Viewed together, the combined matrix maps a regatta that became more competitive with every flight. Early assumptions were no-longer held, momentum shifted meaningfully. With the two round robins complete, the top four teams advance to the semifinals. As a World Sailing Youth Grade 3 event, every match contributes to the official system, with skippers gaining or losing ground in both Open and Youth Match Racing standings.
“Being a well-ranked event, it adds to the rankings on the world scale,” RPAYC Coach Rob Brewer noted. “There’s a lot of pressure on these sailors. They come over here, we look after them, and they form friendships, which is a big part of our pool.” He added that several teams remain “very much in the mix” for the top spot.
| Skipper | DK | EF | JH | BC | SS | ML | RW | LT | HM | ZF | W/ 18 | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Kemp | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 56% |
| Ethan Fong | 1 | – | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 61% |
| James Hayhoe | 1 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 44% |
| Ben Crafoord | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 33% |
| Samuel Scott | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 78% |
| Mia Lovelady | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 33% |
| Robbie Wooldridge | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 72% |
| Louis Tilly | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 9 | 50% |
| Harriett McLachlan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 2 | 11% |
| Zach Fong | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | – | 11 | 61% |
Fleet storylines developing:
• The Kiwi lockout is real
All four New Zealand sailors occupy the top four positions after two round robins. Their collective strength across both days shows the depth of the RNZYS youth pathway.
• Australia’s spoiler potential remains high
Kemp and Tilly have both taken points off top-four sailors. Lovelady’s win over Wooldridge and McLachlan’s early surge against Crafoord highlight a fleet that hasn’t ceded anything easily.
• Mid-fleet volatility is shaping the cutline
Hayhoe (8–10), Lovelady (6–12), Crafoord (6–12) and Tilly (9–9) have all traded blows in a narrow band where one clean start or one poor gybe can swing the entire match.
• Downwind confidence is becoming the separator
Across multiple flights, the biggest gains and losses have come on the run. The sailors who are attacking those legs, not simply defending them, are the ones who have climbed the table.
Heading into finals contention
With the two initial round robins complete, the semifinal picture is tightening into focus. If the cut were made today, New Zealand would sweep the top four, though Kemp sits close enough to push his way in should the next stage open the door.
Scott looks composed, Wooldridge remains consistent, and the Fong brothers carry rising momentum. But Pittwater has already shown it is capable of flipping matches late, and the locals will be hunting those moments hard.
The next phase promises even closer racing as pressure increases and the tactical windows shrink. With the week’s strongest weather still ahead, the Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship is poised for an intense finish.
Read more: https://rpayc.com.au/media-release-day-3-harken-international-youth-match-racing-championship/
