In support of the outstanding talent and performances by university sailors in match racing, University Match Racing Sydney want to provide them with a platform and help stage a quality match-racing regatta to encourage more professionalism and growth in Australian university sailing and are looking forward to hosting the best Australian university teams at the 2011 RPAYC University Match Racing Championship.

The Organising Authority for the Championship is the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in NSW under the auspices of Yachting Australia. This is also an International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade 3 event at which eight top university teams (40 sailors) will fight it out against each other on the Force 24 yachts.

The Championship has been specially planned for 23-24 September, after the Universiade Games in China, but before the start of the 2011 Australian University Games on Queensland’s Gold Coast, of which the first racing day is 26 September.

It has been confirmed that some members of the crew who won silver and bronze medals at the 2010 World University Match Racing Championships will take part in the event. Additionally, we hope to see champions such Olympian Krystal Weir, Lucinda Whitty, Jay Griffin and David Gilmour compete.

Weir and Whitty were recently selected to represent the Australian sailing team for the 2012 London Olympic Test Event in July, while Jay Griffin won the 2011 Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship in Auckland. David Gilmour was second at the 2011 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta (Perth) and has won many other events.

Event organiser and host is the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious yacht clubs which is situated at Green Point on the waters of Pittwater on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

RPAYC has produced some of Australia’s best sailors including James Spithill, who in 2010 became the youngest skipper to ever win the America’s Cup. His sister Katie and Nicky Souter, match racing champions, are also from RPAYC.

Nautilus Marine Boat Insurance has come aboard as one of the main sponsors. The company has been involved with supporting sailing regattas all over Australia.

In addition, Harken Australia, a leading global manufacturer, marketer of quality sailboat hardware and accessories and supporter of big match racing events in Australia, has kindly offered support. Additional sponsorship is always welcome.

We believe this event has the potential to help inspire and create future champions at regattas such as the America’s Cup and World Match Racing Tour. It also serves to promote the sport to universities across Sydney.

First class facilities, along with high-quality professional race management, umpires and boats are expected to attract a high-calibre university entry.

The NoR will be available from the RPAYC website soon at: www.rpayc.com.au