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Some of the best Trans-Tasman youth match racing teams will traverse the continent to be part of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s longstanding Hardy Cup Sydney International Match Racing Regatta to be sailed February 5 - 8 on Sydney Harbour.

Twelve youth teams of males and females aged 18 to 25 will represent two nations, three Australian states plus the Northern Territory and eight different yacht clubs in Australia and New Zealand at the Grade 3 Hardy Cup the RSYS first hosted back in 2001.

America’s Cup and Olympic sailor Sir James Hardy put his name to the prestigious trophy at the outset and he’s still Patron, saying “It is a tremendous pleasure to watch Australia’s future champions developing their skills on Sydney Harbour.”

George Anyon from the RNZYS, and ranked number 14 in the world starts the Hardy Cup as favourite. The CYCA’s Tom Grimes is another high-ranking skipper expected to be among the finalists.

Clare Costanzo is one of three female skippers, two of those from the RPAYC’s Youth Development program including her younger sister Juliet who is following in her match racing wake. Clare is ninth in the women’s world rankings and finished the Hardy Cup runner-up in 2017, behind DBSC’s team of Ashlen Rooklyn, Ben Robinson, Pete Langman and Chris Steel.

Photo courtesy RSYS Hardy Cup

The third female skipper competing at Hardy Cup 2018 is Charlotte Griffin from the Squadron. The cup will be Charlotte’s third youth match racing event. Previously Charlotte has competed at the Harken International Youth Championships and the Marinassess Women’s Matching Racing Regatta where her skill and speed on the water drew a lot of attention from other competitors. Coming from a dinghy background Charlotte has competed in 420’s for several years and recently competed at the 420 World Championship in Perth.

The five-stage Hardy Cup competition is as follows: stage 1 - a single round robin, stage 2 - a single round robin, stage 3 - quarter final knockout & semi-final knockout, stage 4 - petit final knockout and lastly, stage 5 - the final knockout.

For plenty of information on the Hardy Cup including all regatta documents, list of competing teams and live results once the regatta begins go tohttps://www.rsys.com.au/sailing/hardy-cup and https://www.facebook.com/hardycup/

The Squadron's youth sailing program commenced in 1960 and in 2001 the club hosted the inaugural Hardy Cup, the trophy donated by longstanding regatta Patron Sir James Hardy who wanted to foster the match racing and tactical skills of young sailors. Prior to 2001 the Royal Australian Navy conducted the event for many years but due to the changes in the Navy training structure the competition lapsed until the RSYS picked it up. The Hardy Cup has been won by the following helmsmen who in later years went onto success at the World Match Racing Tour and other professional roles in the sport: Michael Dunstan RSYS, AUS (2002, 2005, 2006), Adam Minoprio RNZYS, NZL (2007), Evan Walker CYCA, AUS (2008, 2010), David Chapman RSYS, AUS (2013).

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rsys1862/

Clare has been match racing since 2013 in State, National and International Youth, Women's and WIM series and Open Match Racing events. Clare led a team from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club Youth Development program for the Warren Jones Regatta. This team of James Farquharson, Harry Hall, Harley Walters and Ryan Wilmot sailed for Will Dargaville at the 2017 Warren Jones Regatta with Clare as floater/tactician. 

This year, the team went back to improve on their 2017 performance with Jessica Angus joining the crew. In 2017 Clare competed at the Youth Match Racing Worlds where she placed 7th and competed at the 2017 Hardy Cup where she placed 2nd. Clare is currently ranked 9th in the Women's Match Racing Ranking and 72nd in Open Match Racing. Clare was also the guest speaking at the City of Perth Women On Water event while in W.A..

Today she commences her Hardy Cup 2018 campaign.

Good luck to both Costanzo sisters and their crews!

The five-stage Hardy Cup competition is as follows: Stage 1 - a single round robin, Stage 2 - a single round robin, Stage 3 - quarter final knockout and semi-final knockout, Stage 4 - petit final knockout and lastly, Stage 5 - the final knockout.

The results from the Warren Jones International Youth Regatta:

The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron hosts one of Australia's most prestigious match racing events, the Hardy Cup, as an Under 25 World Sailing Grade 3 International Event.

The Hardy Cup was donated by Sir James Hardy (Event Patron), the America's Cup, World Champion and Olympic Yachtsman, and prominent RSYS member to promote the match racing helming skills and tactical skills of young sailors.

The racing for the Hardy Cup will be held on the magnificent Sydney Harbour set with the backdrop of the world famous Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron is in an excellent position to provide immediate access to the Harbour and racing areas. Further to this fantastic location, RSYS intends to provide a Race Management and Umpire team of the highest order to give each team the best possible match racing conditions.

The event, sailed in the Club's fleet of Elliot 7 yachts, has received entries from across Australia and around the world. These include Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and USA.