(From the CYCA web site - www.cyca.com.au - written by by Pam Scrivenor & Jennifer Crooks)

Defending Champion Lucinda Whitty (AUS) is aiming for another win

Defending champion Lucinda Whitty will compete against fellow Australian Sailing Development Squad (ASDS) members Nina Curtis and Stacey Jackson, in the Marinassess Women’s Match Racing Regatta this coming weekend.

Whitty, has won this event twice before, and comes into the regatta as the number one team, with fellow ASDS team members Nicky Souter and Katie Spithill as her crew.

Originally designed as a development regatta for the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and its women’s match racing squad, the Marinassess Women’s Match Racing regatta has attracted some of the world’s top women’s and developing match racers.

Nine women’s teams representing five clubs from around Australia and one Finnish entrant will come together on Friday evening, after their first training session to participate in a fun ‘fleet’ race before the two day competition gets underway at 1015hrs on Saturday 27th February.

Josie Roper, Ali Sutherland and Keats Thomson will skipper the three CYCA teams and have been part of the Youth Sailing Academy’s women’s match racing squad that have been training on Friday evenings since October last year.

Silja Lehtinen from Finland has entered the regatta to gain vital practice on the Elliot 6.0m boats before travelling to Auckland the following week to compete in the New Zealand Women’s Nationals.

Stephanie Strong from Sandringham Yacht Club will be competing in her first match racing regatta in Sydney. Late last year, Strong competed in the Australian Youth Match Racing Championship held at her home club on their fleet of Beneteau 7.5s where she showed what a talented, up and coming skipper she is.

RPAYC have also entered a young development team, with Stephanie Doyle skippering an Elliott in her first regatta at CYCA. Nina Curtis and Stacey Jackson will also sail under the RPAYC burgee as well as representing the ASDS.

The Marinassess Women’s Match Racing Regatta is sponsored by CYCA member and Marinassess Managing Director John Messenger. Racing commences at 1015hrs each day and a draw will be available from Reception for spectators. Live results will also be available on www.cyca.com.au.