James Hayhoe and Ben Crafoord each won all five of their races on the opening day of the 2026 Australian Youth Match Racing Championship at Royal Geelong Yacht Club today, leaving their first meeting of the regatta for Friday.

The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and Cruising Yacht Club of Australia skippers finished Thursday unbeaten, with light, shifty conditions leaving the final flight of Round Robin 1 incomplete.

Their match is one of three still to be sailed in the opening round robin, setting up a contest for the outright lead when racing resumes tomorrow.

Morning fog cleared quickly in Geelong, but the light breeze tested the seven teams as race officials completed six of the seven scheduled flights.

The championship is presented by DYSC Marine Supplies and hosted by Royal Geelong Yacht Club in conjunction with Australian Sailing, with teams from New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia racing the host club’s fleet of RS21s.

Credit - Jordan Roberts, Down Under Sail

Speaking earlier in the day, Hayhoe said maintaining boat speed was his team’s priority in the light conditions.

“In the really light stuff, we’re just focusing on sailing the boat as fast as we possibly can,” Hayhoe said.

“It’s less so about sailing high, but really just getting the boat rumbling.”

Hayhoe’s opening race against Mornington Yacht Club’s Digby Taylor included a close pre-start, with the RSYS skipper saying a penalty against his opponent helped him establish an early advantage.

Both Hayhoe and Crafoord went on to beat each of the other five skippers, including Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s Louis Tilly.

Tilly finished the day with three wins and two losses, ahead of Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club’s Angus Cameron on two wins and three losses.

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s Massimo Henderson and Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia’s Fraser Baker each recorded one win from five races. Meanwhile, Digby Taylor completed all six of his Round Robin 1 matches, finishing with one win.

RGYC sailing manager Drew Malcolm said the opening day had delivered light and variable conditions, with a significant change expected for Friday.

“We got through six flights of our first round robin,” Malcolm said.

“Two teams are on five wins apiece.”

Malcolm said a strong northerly forecast for Friday could bring bumpy conditions and test the crews towards the upper end of the RS21 wind range.

“It’s going to make it really interesting tomorrow, it’ll bring in a completely different skill set,” he said.

Racing continues for the rest of the week, with the national title to be decided on Sunday.

The 2026 Australian Youth Match Racing Championship is presented by DYSC Marine Supplies, with support from Garner Marine Services and Bull Sails, and hosted by Royal Geelong Yacht Club in conjunction with Australian Sailing.

WORDS: Harry Fisher, Down Under Sail

IMAGES: Jordan Roberts, Down Under Sail