The 2025 Oceanbridge New Zealand Youth Match Racing Championship kicks off on Saturday 9th August at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, and for the first time in several years, the title is well and truly up for grabs.
With Youth World No. 1 Josh Hyde absent from the lineup, a new champion will be crowned. Hyde and his Waitematā Racing Team have won the event for the past three editions, making this year’s championship a unique opportunity for emerging talent to stake their claim on the national stage.
If there’s a front-runner, it’s World No. 4 Ethan Fong. Fresh off his debut appearance at the prestigious Governor’s Cup in California, Fong returns home with big ambitions and valuable international experience.
Another compelling storyline is the rise of Lucas Day. After a season crewing for Ethan Fong, Day has stepped up to the helm for this campaign and brings with him two of Josh Hyde’s former teammates – Zach Fong and Cody Coughlan, who both recently returned from the Youth Match Racing Worlds and Governor’s Cup. They have all the tools to put together a great regatta.
The young Wai-Knot Racing team, led by Sam Clarke, have had a standout season of their own. With victories at both the New Zealand Secondary Schools Keelboat Nationals and the Open Team Racing Nationals, Clarke’s squad has proven they can deliver under pressure and will be a serious threat throughout the event.
Adding to the competitive mix is a team from Wellington, making a welcome return to the fleet. The Team Worser Bay Sailing Club crew impressed at the Mastercard Youth Training Week last December, where they were the fastest boat on the course and ultimately took out the competition.
Two other RNZYS Performance Programme teams – helmed by Samuel Scott and Noah Malpot -are also in the mix. Both skippers are no strangers to the podium and bring a strong foundation of match racing experience to the regatta.
The weather forecast promises a breezy few days on the Waitemata Harbour, setting the stage for fast, tactical, and high-intensity match racing.
Performance Sailing Manager Zak Merton commented: “These conditions usually favour teams with sharp boat handling and fitness. It will be good to see a symmetrical spinnaker regatta in this wind.”
With a deep and competitive field, proven performers, and rising stars all fighting it out, it’s going to be a great week.
