News & Features | ISAF | World Sailing | Official Site : SMYTH Sets The Pace

News

8 April 2006, 06:26 pm

SMYTH Sets The Pace

MATIS New Zealand Women's Match Racing Championship 2006

Auckland, New Zealand

Defending champion Jessica SMYTH (NZL) set out her stall at the second day of the ISAF Grade 3 MATIS New Zealand Women's Match Racing Championship in Auckland, losing just once to top the round robin table ahead of Australia's Katie SPITHILL.

SMYTH, representing the host Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, suffered her only loss at the hands of Aimee FAMULARO (NZL), a result which propelled FAMULARO into the semi-finals on countback.

Slow Start

After only three flights were completed on Friday in the strong winds the outlook did not look good for racing in Auckland today, but the Squadron's Race Committee did a fantastic job and the remainder of round robin one was completed. After a long delay in the afternoon and a very shifty breeze the Race Committee decided to not begin round robin two and go straight to the semi-finals and place five to eight sail offs tomorrow.

This meant a intriguing countback situation was formed as three teams were tied on four points and another three teams tied on two points. When the final scores were worked out SMYTH came out on top, then SPITHILL from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, then Jan DAWSON (NZL) and FAMULARO.

Behind The Leaders

In the minor places, Amy MULCAHY (NZL) qualified fifth overall and will race tomorrow against Olivia POWRIE (NZL), who is sailing the Elliott 6 Metre youth training boats for the first time, and had an outstanding second day knocking off two of the favourites, SPITHILL and FAMULARO.

Disaster struck the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Youth Training Programme team this morning as their skipper Greta THOMSEN (NZL) had caught a virus and was too sick to sail. Bowman Samantha OSBORNE (NZL) stepped in and a replacement crew was found. The young girls found their strength after a bad day yesterday to come away with two wins. Tomorrow they will race against the other youth team from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, led by Samantha BOYD (AUS), who celebrated her 20th birthday today.

MATIS New Zealand Women's Match Racing Championship Standings

1. Jessica SMYTH (NZL), 7-1
2. Katie SPITHILL (AUS), 6-2
3. Jan DAWSON (NZL), 4.5-3
4. Aimee FAMULARO (NZL), 4-4
5. Amy MULCAHY (NZL), 4-5
6. Olivia POWRIE (NZL), 4-6
7. Greta THOMSEN (NZL), 2-7
8. Samantha BOYD (AUS), 2-8
9. Sara WINTHER (AUS), 2-9