The NSW Team Sailing State Championships were held out of Georges River Sailing Club for the first time – right on the door step of our new Brighton Preparatory School campus. On the Friday, the whole Prep school came down at lunch time to support the Scots Sailing teams.
Three long days of racing saw the Scots 1st team continue their season-long dominant form, winning the event convincingly. The dedication and commitment that Scots students – Hugo Stoner (Year 12), Darcy McCracken (Year 12), Cole Tapper (Year 10), Sam Steinberg (Year 11) and James Watson (Year 12) – have had to the sport over the last three years was on display. No teams were able to match Scots 1st in the draw. Thomas Whitehead in Year 7 has come into the Sailing Program from the Prep squad and has improved tenfold, making him one of the youngest ever State champions.
The Scots 2nd team had a more challenging time over the three days lacking the consistency needed to move to the top of the Swiss league draw. Despite the setback Captain of the 2nds team, Hugo Leeming (Year 11), led his team strongly on the final day of the event to make it all the way to the final – a Scots versus Scots affair for the second year running.
Both Scots 1st and 2nd teams have now qualified for the National Championships in Victoria later on in the year, making Scots the only school representing NSW, for a second year running.
The Scots 3rd team sailed exceptionally all weekend as well. Led by team Captain Tom Ludlow (Year 11), they were unlucky not to make the quarter final series on the final day. I would like to make special mention of this team comprised of Finn Jones (Year 8), Ben Carroll (Year 11), Sam Carroll (Year 7), Archie Huybers (Year 11), Tom Ludlow (Year 11) and Hamish Vass (Year 10). They have improved at such a fast rate and the Scots coaching staff are extremely proud of their achievements.
I would like to signal out Kahu Millin (Year 8) and congratulate him on a fantastic regatta. Kahu has undertaken a Race Officers Course and helps run many difficult technical elements of racing. The chief Race Officer of the event Col Chidely, who is an internationally recognised and respected race officer, could not believe how efficient and professional Kahu was during the whole event.
Lastly I would like to thank Gary Faulkner (Coordinator of Sailing), Matt Wales (Coach) and Old Boy Alex Marinelli (Coach) for doing an amazing job of coaching and giving these boys the best opportunity to excel at the sport of sailing.
Written by Beau Junk, Director of Sailing at The Scots College
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