The 2020 Tasmania Youth Championship took place over the last weekend in February hosted by Sandy Bay Sailing Club.

Day 1 of the competition started off with gusty no westerly winds reaching up to 22 knots. The big shifts combined with big variations in wind strength made it hard work for the first two races. However the sea breeze started to fight it’s way in causing a short delay in racing. Races 3 & 4 were a in steady and gentle sea breeze, making for a great end to a big day on the water.

Day 2 looked like another tricky day for Principal Race Officer on the Derwent River. Fortunately the light northerly breeze hung around long enough to squeeze in another 3 races before racing was abandoned for the day. A total of seven races in a variety of wind strengths and directions allowed for close racing.

In the 29ers former teammates Oscar O’Donoghue and Rupert Hamilton were going head to head. Hamilton crewing for the current national champion skipper Ethan Galbraith were level points with O’Donoghue and crew Charlie Goodfellow going into the last day of racing. Galbraith and Hamilton proved too strong scraping in with the win by just 2 points.

Everyone had their moment in the Laser 4.7 Class with all five boats getting at one race win each. Just 8 points separated the whole fleet. Oliver Hugo sailing The Bird took out the title, followed closely bird Daniel Marree in Boomer and in third Archie Yarrow Shiok La.

With the exception of 1^st place, racing in the International Cadet was also very tight. Esther Read and Grace Hooper teamed up and showed their experience in the class and could not be matched. Placing 1^st in every race the had the ability to drop a 1^st, totalling 6 points from 7 races.

Despite such close on water action the camaraderie between sailors was evident with many sailors trying out new skipper/crew combinations following an extensive nationals campaign. The regatta proved to be a great opportunity for those wanting to gain a taste of regatta experience and as a testing opportunity for future teams.