Auckland, New Zealand – The world’s top youth match racers are gearing up for the highly anticipated 2025 Toyota Youth International Match Racing Cup, taking place from February 27 to March 2 at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS). Known as the unofficial Youth Match Racing World Championship, this event attracts elite sailors from across the globe, many of whom have gone on to achieve greatness in professional sailing. Past winners include notable names such as Nick Egnot-Johnson, Leo Takahashi, Harry Price, George Gautrey, Gavin Brady, Josh Junior, and America’s Cup winner Jimmy Spithill. 

RNZYS Performance Sailing Manager, and former Match Racing World Champion Zak Merton said, “Some amazing yachties have won this event over the years and the best of the best complete in this regatta and have gone onto some epic careers in sailing.” 

Over four action-packed days, competitors will battle it out in a demanding format featuring double round robins for the first three days, followed by semi-finals and finals on the last day. The ultimate goal? To claim the coveted title of 2025 Toyota Youth International Match Racing Cup champion. 

Defending champion Josh Hyde, skipper of Waitemata Racing, returns to the event with his formidable crew – Mason Mulcahy, Zach Fong, Sofia Higgott, and Cody Coughlan – determined to hold onto their title. Hyde and his team have had a stellar season, recently winning the Hardy Cup in Sydney and finishing as the top youth team at the prestigious Warren Jones Regatta in Perth. Hyde currently sits as the No. 2 ranked youth match racer in the world. 

“Waitemata Racing is super excited to be out on our home waters this week at the Toyota Youth International Match Racing Cup, said Hyde on behalf of his dedicated team. 

“We hope to carry forward the momentum from our recent win at the Hardy Cup and look to put in an even better performance. It’s great to see all the top Oceania teams coming over for our event, and we expect really tight racing. The team dynamic is feeling really strong at the moment, implementing daily rituals of Tai Chi and dock out tunes to keep vibes up and heads dialed,” continued Hyde. 

Among those eager to challenge Hyde is World No. 3 youth match racing helm Daniel Kemp of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. Kemp has established himself as a strong contender in the match racing scene and will be looking to make his mark on the Auckland waters. 

James Hayhoe and his team, representing the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, will also be ones to watch. After finishing as runners-up at the 2025 Hardy Cup, Hayhoe is eager to prove himself in his first-ever competition at RNZYS. 

Travelling the farthest for this prestigious event is William Stratton and his team from Del Rey Yacht Club, USA. With top international talent in the mix, competition is expected to be fierce. 

The PredictWind forecast suggests a light-wind regatta, making local knowledge and strategic decision-making crucial—especially when navigating the strong tidal flows of the RNZYS racecourse. 

The event will be sailed in the Emirates Team New Zealand fleet of Elliott 7s, which were generously gifted to RNZYS in February 2024 by the America’s Cup-winning team. With evenly matched boats and top-tier talent, the racing promises to be intense, and the title remains anyone’s for the taking. 

Results from this regatta go towards a team’s world ranking. 

Listed in order of current Youth Match Racing World Rankings as of 27 February 2025

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron / World Sailing Ranking – 2
NZL

Helm: Josh Hyde
Main: Mason Mulcahy
Trim: Zach Fong
Bow: Cody Coughlan
Float: Sofia Higgott

Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club / World Sailing Ranking – 3
AUS

Helm: Daniel Kemp
Main: Louis Tilly
Trim: Lachlan Wallace
Bow: Charlie Verity
Float: Isabella Holdsworth

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron / World Sailing Ranking – 6
AUS

Helm: Xavier Mclaughlan
Main: Tom Rees
Trim: Gretel Payne
Bow: Katrina Casimaty
Float: Rafeal Mclaughlan

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron / World Sailing Ranking – 8
NZL

Helm: Ethan Fong 
Main: Hugo McMullen 
Trim: Maddie Rist 
Bow: Wilbur Stanley 
Float: Lucas Day

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron / World Sailing Ranking – 9
NZL

Helm: Hayden Smith 
Main: Robbie Wooldridge 
Trim: Luca Smith 
Bow: Pheobe Buckland 
Float: Austin Candlish

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia / World Sailing Ranking – 22
AUS

Helm: Ben Crafoord 
Main: Chelsea Williams 
Trim: Nick Drummond 
Bow: Charlie Watts 
Float: Rye Brady

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron / World Sailing Ranking – 28
AUS

Helm: James Hayhoe 
Main: Ellie Braddon 
Trim: Michael King 
Bow: James Hopkins 
Float: Harriet McLachlan

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron / World Sailing Ranking – 32
NZL

Helm: Samuel Scott 
Main: Finn Balchin 
Trim: Tim McCulloch 
Bow: Alissa Marshall 
Float: Winsten Liesbach

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron / World Sailing Ranking – 4
NZL

Helm: Charley Cates
Main: Jacob Furniss
Trim: Jolly Koska
Bow: Chris Kenrick

Del Rey Yacht Club / Unranked
USA

Helm: William Stratton
Main: Matei Meglic
Trim: Leila Landay
Bow: Lucca Farrel
Float: Cooper Keeves

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron / Unranked
NZL

Helm: Leo Jeffery
Main: Karol Zhang
Trim: Georgia Howlett
Bow: Ellie Petty
Float: Bradley Perry