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Wednesday, 01 February 2023 // Perth, Western Australia
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2023 WARREN JONES INTERNATIONAL YOUTH REGATTA
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DAY 2 - RACING IS UNDERWAY!
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A hot Perth sun greeted some of the world’s best youth match racers to Raceday 1 of The Warren Jones International Youth Regatta. Winds on the light side of moderate offered sailors little respite from the heat as the racing began…
As thirsty sailors prayed for the arrival of the Freo Doctor, the first flight brough immediate drama and upset. Despite a dominating opening hand, Nick Egnot-Johnson was upset to the tightly competitive Lucy Alderson. Just ahead of Lucy going into the top mark, Egnot-Johnson’s bowman, local boy Kai Colman, fell overboard during the set. Lucy pounced, Egnot-Johnson circled back, race over, an exuberant celebration by the all-female team across the finish line.
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Unfazed by this slip-up, Egnot-Johnson marched on to win the rest of his remaining races, as the doctor rolled in to the sailors’ combined relief. Despite a member of his crew being stranded in New Zealand by the Auckland floods, he’s looked at home and in control onboard, supported by local hero Kai Colman and 29er-gun Vassilis Katsaitis. His success appears to lie in a proactive, assertive approach to the start sequence, establishing control early and relentlessly forcing the opponent skipper to make quick decisions in the case he has to win it back. Once he’s ahead, he doesn’t leave the door open, sailing fast and clean around the course. As Egnot-Johnson’s last youth event, he’ll definitely be keen to carry on his recent form, winning the Match Racing World Championships, to finish on a high.
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A tight grouping in the top, consisting of experienced campaigners: Tom Grimes, Ethan Prieto-Low, and Alistair Read; mainly traded wins and losses between themselves. Max Paul was the only skipper outside the top 4 to break in, with a win against Alistair.
Grimes is returning to the sport in emphatic fashion, after an extended period of time away from match racing to focus on work and studies.
Prieto-Low, a Warren Jones Regatta stalwart, has been sailing this event since he was 16, and this is his final chance to claim a regatta win for his home event. Prieto-Low has also invested significant time and energy in the organisation leading up to his event, and has been training hard alongside local teams Gage Roads Sailing (Marcello Torre), and Akamai Racing (Lucy Alderson), coached by Warren-Jones veteran, Will Boulden.
Alistair Read is an experienced match racer out of Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, who recently finished 2nd in Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s Hardy Cup. A first timer to this event, he’s teamed with experienced campaigner Juliet Costanzo, a 4-time Warren Jones competitor, on main trim, who’s helping show him the ropes as he gets to grips with the Foundation 36s for the first time. Given his relative lack of time in the boats, he’s definitely one to watch throughout the week.
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Click to view the Day 2 video ^^
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With a full round robin completed, the race team and volunteers did a great job to capitalise on the glamour conditions ahead of a week of light winds forecast.
However you like to follow your sport, there’s an option for you to tune into this regatta, with Ed Fether’s live broadcast stream, daily wrapup reports, videos and stills by Tom Hodge Media, and a video live stream planned for the finals series on Friday afternoon.
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OFFICIAL WARREN JONES REGATTA 2023 TEAM PHOTOS NOW AVAILABLE
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Click to view the Day 1 video (includes some competitor interviews!) ^^
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WARREN JONES REGATTA WEBSITE
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WARREN JONES REGATTA SOCIAL MEDIA
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WARREN JONES RADIO + COMMENTARY
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Ed Fethers and co will once again be treating your ears to all the ins & outs of the racing - broadcasting from 12pm WST Tuesday through to Friday:
LOCALLY: Tune in via the radio @ 106.5fm
ONLINE: via the web-link at www.swanriversailing.com/warrenjonesregatta
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*BONUS VIDEO* Watch the full race from Rounb Robin #1 between Nick Egnot-Johnson & Tom Grimes ^^
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Photography & Videography for the 2023 Warren Jones Regatta is provided by Tom Hodge Media - these will be accessible through the Warren Jones Regatta & Swan River Sailing social media channels. Cheers Tom!
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2023 WARREN JONES GALA LUNCHEON
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FRIDAY, 3RD FEBRUARY 2023 | 12PM | ROYAL PERTH YACHT CLUB
Welcome cocktails provided by Grumpy Fish Distillery, freshly shucked oysters by local legend Jerry Frazer, followed by a three-course meal accompanied by premium free flowing beverages courtesy of Paul Nelson Wines and Gage Roads Brewing Co.
A keynote address will be provided by Ben Pronk, Managing Partner of Mettle Global, former SAS Commanding Officer, an adjunct faculty member at the Australian Graduate School of Management, a Patron of the Military Art Program Australia and co-host of the Unforgiving60 podcast.
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