The 2026 Australian Youth Match Racing Championship begins at Royal Geelong Yacht Club tomorrow, with seven teams from across Australia competing for the national youth title over four days of racing on Corio Bay.
Ben Crafoord (CYCA), James Hayhoe (RSYS) and Louis Tilly (RPAYC) bring recent regatta wins into the event, with Crafoord winning the NSW Youth Championship in August, Hayhoe winning the Toyota Youth International in Auckland earlier this year, and Tilly taking out September’s Open Match Racing Regatta in Geelong.
Credit - Jordan Roberts/Down Under Sail
The national championship is presented by DYSC Marine Supplies and hosted by Royal Geelong Yacht Club in conjunction with Australian Sailing.
Tilly’s September win came in the same RGYC-owned RS21 fleet that will be used this week, giving the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club skipper recent experience of the boats and venue.
“I feel like I’ve got a bit of an advantage having done that last regatta here,” Tilly said.
“The team is pretty dialled in right now, and we’re feeling pretty good with how we’re sailing.
“Taking it to Ben and James is going to be a big task. But I’m sure the boys in front of me will be able to deal with it.”
Tilly said the RS21s offered a different challenge from the Elliott 7s used at the NSW championship, particularly in their rig power, crew weight movement and manoeuvrability.
“All round they’re pretty fun boats, and I think that’ll be displayed out this weekend,” he said.
Crafoord and Hayhoe met in a five-race NSW final, with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia skipper recovering from 2-0 down to win the next three races and take the title. Crafoord also defeated Tilly 3-2 in the semi-finals.
Hayhoe’s Toyota Youth International victory came after a 3-2 win over New Zealand’s Ethan Fong in the final.
Crafoord said he expected another close contest in Geelong.
“Louis won the pre-event, and James is going good having won some regattas, so yeah it should be good, and should be tight competition,” Crafoord said.
After training in Geelong today, Crafoord said he had enjoyed the change to the RS21 fleet.
“They’re a lot lighter and quicker, and a bit more manoeuvrable,” he said.
“Bit more like a 29er or a dinghy, so that’s nice. They’re good boats, and we enjoyed them today.”
Tilly said the chance to race regularly against familiar opponents was important to developing towards larger match racing events.
“On the water, the rivalry is quite tight,” he said.
“To be able to hopefully get on that circuit and do bigger regattas is always the goal, I guess.”
The final entry list also includes Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s Massimo Henderson, Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia’s Fraser Baker, Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club’s Angus Cameron and Mornington Yacht Club’s Digby Taylor.
The championship’s four-day racing program follows today’s registration and practice sessions, 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
