(From the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s web site: www.cyca.com.au)

The Marinassess Women’s Match Racing Regatta is the major event to finish the
Youth Sailing Academy Women’s squad summer season. With the inclusion of
women’s match racing in the 2012 Olympics, this event is now becoming a popular
fixture on the women’s circuit with interest from both Australia and overseas teams.

Three teams from the Australian Sailing & Development squad, skippered by Katie
Spithill, Nicky Souter and Lucinda Whitty sailed three-up in the event as this will be
the combination for the Olympics. Jessica Smyth and her team from Royal New
Zealand Yacht Squadron have flown in from Auckland for the weekend and enjoyed
the varied weather conditions that the day threw at them.

The CYCA YSA teams, skippered by Olivia Price, Catherine Trew, Josie Roper and
Kirsten Norris have been training for this event every Friday evening since October
under the coaching of Evan Walker. Walker said after racing today, “it was great to
see the teams working hard and being put to the test against strong teams from the
AS&DS and overseas.”

The weather gave Race Officer, Denis Thompson, some minor headaches this
morning when the breeze shifted 50 degrees during the first flight, requiring all races
that had started to be abandoned. After moving the course, a 6-8 knot north easterly
settled in and racing was underway. The teams were then pushed through a full
round robin and into the second round robin in a steady 17 knot breeze before the
southerly and a fierce looking black sky called an end to the day.

There will be some competition out on the water tomorrow with the AS&DS teams of
Spithill, Souter and Whitty all finishing the day on equal points with 7 wins and 2
losses, followed by Jess Smith (RNZYS) and Olivia Price on 6 wins and 3 losses.

Results at the end of Round Robin One

Katie Spithill (AS&DS) 7-2
Nicky Souter (AS&DS) 7-2
Lucinda Whitty (AS&DS) 7-2
Jess Smyth (RNZYS) 6-3
Olivia Price (CYCA) 6-3
Alex South (RSYS) 5-4
Catherine Trew (CYCA) 4-5
Brie Whitton (RPAYC) 2-7
Kirsten Norris (CYCA) 1-8
Josie Roper (CYCA) 0-9