December 16, 2023
2 minutes reading time
France declared 2023 Youth Match Racing World Champions
Ange Delerce, Julia D’amodio, Julien Bunel, Corentin Goulon, Erwan Felio, representing the Société des Régates d’Antibes have been crowned 2023 Youth Match Racing World Champions after an epic five days of racing on Sydney Harbour. Australia’s Cole Tapper, Max Brennan, Chelsea Williams & Hamish Vass were runners up, with defending champions USA’s Jeffrey Petersen, Justin Callahan, Enzo Menditto, Daniel Pegg, Marbella Marlo secured third place.
Spectacular conditions and building sea breeze once again graced the competitors for the final day of the 2023 World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA). The final four teams completed the semi-final stage of the Championship up first, with Ange Delerce upsetting Team USA 3–0, whilst CYCA teammates, Cole Tapper & Will Sargent from Australia went 3–1 in the other.
As the breeze continued to bend left towards the sea breeze, a fresh north easterly settled for the Finals Series. Joining the competitors on the water was a flurry of spectator vessels including the official spectator vessel, the Rosman Ferry donated by Noakes Group for World Championship Final. The 60+ guests onboard then witnessed one of the toughest fought Finals series.
France’ Ange Delerce nailed the opening two races of the Finals Series, continuing him undefeated record for the day to head into Race 3 with a 2–0 lead. However, the Australian’s, who all week have fought back, clawed their way out of another extremely difficult spot and showed their impressive skills in the Elliott 7m class used for the World Championship, to come from behind in Races 3 and 4 to level the Series and head into a winner-takes-all final race.
After winning the start, the French led for the opening half of the race, but once again the Australian’s pounced on the first downwind run. However, a missed judged gybe saw Tapper penalised for the maneurver and he passed.
On the final upwind and downwind leg the pair were never more than a boat length apart, and as they drew closer to the finish line the Australians tried to offset their penalty but the French were able to sail around and break ahead just metres from the finish line.
The CYCA Race Committee vessel, with Event Partner, Richard Feyn, representing the Mercure Hotel Sydney & Sydney Brewery was in position to fire the CYCA cannon and christen the new Youth Match Racing World Champions.
“We are just stoked to win, it’s a dream come true for us” Ange Delerce. “Cole and the Australian team have been great competitors all week and always fight back hard, so it was awesome to come up against them in the finals, you can’t get any closer than that to finish – Sydney really turned it on for us today, it’s an amazing feeling.”
As teams gathered in the CYCA’s Rolex Sydney Village, special guest Vice President of the Australian Olympic Committee Matt Allen AM presented the Bronze medals to the United States of America team followed by CYCA Chief Executive Officer Justine Kirkjian who presented the Silver medals to the home team from Australia. CYCA Commodore Arthur Lane completed the podium presentation, with Gold medals and World Championship Perpetual Trophy for the new Youth Match Racing World Champions.
Text and images courtesy of Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.