Dinghy Group

by Di Pearson, Sail Sydney Media (7/12/9)

Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS) head sailing coach Richard Scarr is justifiably proud of his charges competing at the four-day Sail Sydney regatta for Olympic and Youth classes, the four day Yachting NSW event being held on Sydney Harbour.

Scarr, a trophy-winning Flying Dutchman sailor, has nine Tasmanians sailing in the Laser Radial, Laser 4.7 and Moth classes at the regatta and says they have made big inroads since the TIS program started in January.

In their short time training together, the sailors are already mounting serious challenges at this ISAF Grade 1 event, the only one in NSW.

At the end of Day 2, and with only two days of sailing remaining, Scarr’s number one pupil is leading the 48-strong Laser Radial single-handed class, competing against some of the best sailors in Australia and internationally.

Jones, a 17 year-old from Hobart, took the lead from two international entries yesterday. So far his scorecard shows a pair of wins and second places, his worst result a sixth, which has been used as his race drop.

With two days racing remaining, Jones is four points clear of his nearest rival, Scott Sydney (SIN) and a huge 13 points in front of third placed Annalise Murphy (IRE).

“I came in hoping for a top five result,” an understated Jones said this morning. “I finished fourth here last year, so I expected a similar result in the fleet I’m sailing against here. There’s a lot of good people here.”

Jones has plans: “I’m hoping to be selected for the ISAF Youth Worlds and to do well at the Nationals, so this is a warm-up for me and some of the other team members,” he says, referring to 11th placed Elliott Noye and 15th placed Zac Pullen.

“They are committed and they do the work,” Scarr states, adding “they are not distracted by other things.” The former Sydney resident takes his pupils for early bicycle training before school, then visits the school twice a day for boxing exercises. After school it’s time for on water training – every day.

According to the coach, “All our young sailors are very promising. They have mostly been plucked from the Sabot junior class. They all have natural talent and are trained as a team to support each other, even though they compete against each other.

“It’s all about the team and making each other better. Whoever wins places to National and World events is supported by the team as a whole.”

It’s working and Scarr already has his eye on some other talented youngsters. “We should have 16 new 4.7 sailors out of the Sabot development program in our next intake,” he said, but pointed out that “we are very much reliant on government funding. Our funding only takes us up to January, but we’re hoping it will be ongoing….”

Sixteen year-old Angus Barton, in 19th place, is also in the Tasmanian program, along with his 13 year-old sister Emma, who is also lying 19th, but in the Laser 4.7. Angus has already won a NSW Youth Championship.

Elliott Noye is disappointed with his 22nd and 13th place results of yesterday. “Not very good – shocking actually, but we all have our bad days,” he said. “I wanted to finish top five here and at the Nationals, but so far it’s not going according to plan,” said the 18 year old from Sandy Bay.

According to Zac Pullen, “There’s a few of us campaigning for the one ISAF Youth Worlds spot. It’s good to get some racing in against my other team members, it’ll make us all more competitive.” Smart words from the 16 year-old ‘youngster’ of the team from Kingston, who has only been sailing a Radial for six months after winning a TIS scholarship.

The other Tasmanian star at Sail Sydney is Robert Gough, who is third overall in the exciting but difficult to sail Moth. Gough is only one point behind the leader, David Lister (NSW) so is well in range of winning. The 40 year-old is showing up the young guns of the class.

Scarr says: “I’ve got two guys I train in the Moth. I meet them around midday everyday and we train hard,” he says.

Other Tasmanian team members are sailing in the Laser 4.7 Youth class and include Sophie Chesterton (15 years), Elliott Noyes’ younger brother Lewis (15) and Zachary Petterd, 10th, 11th and 12th placed respectively.

Further information and results at: www.sailsydney.org.au/

Di Pearson, Sail Sydney media
Phone: 0410 792 131

Please credit pic to: www.harvpix.com