Winter Series brings out youth on top boats

THE skills and enthusiasm of young sailors has contributed to the impressive performance of at least two yachts contesting the Combined Clubs Winter Series, Jazz Player and Crusader.

Jazz Player, a New Zealand designed and built a BakewellWhite Z39, owned and skippered by John Dryden, a member of Kettering Yacht

Club and the Derwent Sailing Squadron, finished second in Division 1 of last Sunday’s race, beaten by only 36 seconds.

A close third was the Melges 32 Crusader, helmed by Jacinta Cooper in the absence of husband Brett, the SB20 sportsboat champion.

The boats were crewed predominantly by young sailors, Crusader’s crew including Jacinta’s daughters Indy, 14, and Jorja, 16.

Apart from John Dryden, the oldest crew member of Jazz Player is 23 and the crew boss Finlay Cooper is 19. Most of the crew are former dinghy sailors from Kingston Beach Sailing Club, south of Hobart.

“In order to learn what makes Jazz Player tick, we have embarked on a fully crewed program with a focus on a youth crew led by Finlay,” Dryden said yesterday.

“Fin, now 19, has been a critical member of our crew since he was 15. We did our first Launceston to Hobart together on Prion, just days after his 16th birthday.

“The strength of the crew lies in the fact that they are all eager and focused learners and strong, natural leaders.”

Derwent Sailing Squadron is conducting Sunday’s Winter Series race, starting off Castray Esplanade from 9.40am.

Hamilton Island Race Week 2020 has been cancelled but Airlie Beach Race Week is going ahead next month.