The next generation of New Zealand’s top sailing talent went head-to-head in icy, high-pressure conditions at the 2025 Oceanbridge New Zealand Youth Match Racing Championship last weekend. Hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS), the two-day regatta brought together the country’s best youth match racers for a thrilling contest on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour.

With strong, gusty winds sweeping across the racecourse, it was a weekend that tested every sailor’s skill, strategy, and stamina. Despite the winter chill- described by many as one of the coldest weekends on the water this season – the competition was as hot as it gets.

After two days of fast-paced match racing and an intense knockout series, the top three overall looked like this:

VMG Racing.
Photo: Suellen Hurling / Live Sail Die

1st – VMG Racing

  • Noah Malpot (helm)
  • Will Mason
  • Luca Smith
  • Tayne Haag
  • Sophia Morgan

Happy Days Racing
Photo: Suellen Hurling / Live Sail Die

2nd – Happy Days Racing

  • Lucas Day (helm)
  • Rowan Kensington
  • Zach Fong
  • Cody Coughlan
  • Hugo Smith

Quest Racing
Photo: Suellen Hurling / Live Sail Die

3rd – Quest Racing

  • Ethan Fong
  • Hugo McMullen
  • Maddie Rist
  • Harry McMullen
  • Nelsen Meacham

Last year’s grand final was a hotly contested battle where Noah narrowly missed out to Josh Hyde’s Waitemata Racing. This year he came in determined not to miss out on the trophy again.

“Massive thank you to everyone who made the event possible,” said Malpot. “After going 2-all in the final last year and narrowly missing out, it was great to execute in the last race this time. Credit to Lucas and his team for sailing well and putting us under pressure. Lucas and I have had many close battles over the years, from fighting for an Opti Worlds spot in 2019, to WASZP racing in 2023, and now this match racing final in 2025. Thank you to the race committee for sending us out in incredibly testing conditions.”

Race Officer Blair Park commended both the level of sailing and the spirit of the event, saying, “This was one of the best regattas we’ve seen in a while. The sailors were fantastic, the racing was close and competitive- well done to everyone who competed. It was a joy to watch the youth talent in this event.”

Performance Sailing Manager Zak Merton was thrilled with how the regatta came off, he said “It’s special to see the level continue to rise among these competitors. The wind was relentless for this one and it’s evident the boat handling across the fleet has stepped up over the last year. Well done to all the competitors for making it a spectacle watch and thank you to everyone who came together to make the event a success.”

The Sportsmanship Award went to Charlie Wren, whose dedication shone despite not competing. Wren volunteered her time all weekend, assisting her peers and supporting the race management team- embodying the camaraderie that defines New Zealand’s sailing community.

The Oceanbridge New Zealand Youth Match Racing Championship is one of the key fixtures on the national youth sailing calendar, offering emerging sailors the opportunity to refine their tactical match racing skills in a high-level, pressure-filled environment.

The RNZYS, known as one of the world’s leading match racing clubs, once again delivered a world-class regatta, ensuring every race was completed despite the testing conditions.

Photos – Day 2
Captured by Marcus Brummel / Live Sail Die