2025 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta Skippers Announced

by Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club 20 Dec 13:33 PST 27-31 January 2025

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC) is thrilled to announce the 12 skippers who will line up for the highly anticipated 2025 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta. The event will take place from 27-31 January 2025, in the picturesque Freshwater Bay, Perth, Western Australia.

The regatta will feature an exciting mix of international and local talent, with overseas skippers from Canada, the United States, and New Zealand joining some of the best young sailors from Australia.

International Skippers:

• Alec Coleman - Royal Vancouver Yacht Club (RVYC) Canada
• Jeffrey Petersen - Balboa Yacht Club (BYC) USA
• Josh Hyde - Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) NZ
• Robbie McCutcheon - Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) NZ
• Ethan Fong - Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) NZ
• Hayden Smith - Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) NZ

Australian Skippers:

• Cole Tapper - Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) New South Wales
• Daniel Kemp - Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) New South Wales
• Max Paul - Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (RSYS) New South Wales
• Sam King - Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT) Tasmania
• Marcello Torre - Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC) Western Australia
• Mia Lovelady - Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC) Western Australia

Cole Tapper (CYCA) returns for his second Warren Jones Regatta after finishing 3rd in 2024. Recently crowned World Sailing Youth Match Racing Champion in Saudi Arabia, Tapper is the highest-ranked skipper in the 2025 field. His victory at the prestigious Governor's Cup in July 2024 further solidified his reputation. Tapper is currently ranked 1st in the Youth World Match Racing rankings with Josh Hyde 2nd and Daniel Kemp 3rd. Tapper is ranked 20th in the Open rankings.

Daniel Kemp (RPAYC), also a favourite, recently won the Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship hosted by his home club, RPAYC. Kemp and his team, graduates of RPAYC's 'Youth Development' program, have been sailing together since 2022.

Josh Hyde has been racing with his team at RNZYS for five years and is known for his consistency and teamwork, making him a top contender at the regatta.

Max Paul, returning for his fourth Warren Jones Regatta, has enjoyed a successful year in both the 49er class and the UniCredit Youth America's Cup. After two consecutive 5th-place finishes at the Warren Jones Regatta, Paul and his team are eager to improve their performance.

Robbie McCutcheon (RNZYS) will make his second appearance in Perth, bringing together a crew with diverse sailing backgrounds, from dinghies to larger keelboats.

Marcello Torre from the host club, Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC) is a competitor to watch, as he looks to improve on his second-place finish at last year's event. With a strong desire to take the top spot this time around, Torre is expected to bring his A-game. Also in the spotlight is Mia Lovelady, leading the only all-female team in the competition. Eager to build on her performance from the previous year, Lovelady is determined to make her mark and

improve her standing. Both competitors are set to make this year's event a thrilling one to follow. From Canada, Alec Coleman leads the True North Sailing Team, which was founded in early 2023. The team has enjoyed success across multiple classes and disciplines in Europe and North America. The True North Sailing Team aims to provide young Canadians with opportunities to compete at the highest levels of keelboat and match racing.

Jeffrey Petersen and his team from the Balboa Yacht Club bring a wealth of experience, having won the Governor's Cup twice and the Youth World Match Racing Championship. Their entry adds an international flair to the event, with the team based in Newport Beach, California.

Sam King of the RYCT will lead his crew, known for their fierce determination and exceptional sailing skills. King, the 2023 Australian Open Match Racing Champion, is a sailor to watch as his team is ready to battle for the championship.

Ethan Fong and his team have been competing together for one year, all of them current Youth Training Program (YTP) sailors at RNZYS. Over the past year, the team has demonstrated remarkable performance in a series of prestigious events, including the recent Harken Youth International Match Racing Championships at RPAYC where he placed 2nd.

Meanwhile, Hayden Smith (RNZYS) has formed a newly assembled team that also sails out of RNZYS. Smith's team, known as Smiths Racing, is made up of talented sailors from the YTP program. Smith is currently ranked 10th in the Youth World Match Racing Rankings and is on an upward trajectory. Smith's team is eager to gain further experience and is excited to add the upcoming Warren Jones Regatta to their list of events, aiming to build on their success and continue their climb in the global rankings.

The 2025 Warren Jones Regatta will be sailed in Foundation 36 yachts, a new challenge for some of the teams who are eager to test their skills in these boats.

The 2025 Warren Jones Regatta is made possible through the generous support of the Warren Jones Foundation, which has backed this prestigious event for the past 21 years. We are also pleased to welcome the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) as a partner. Key sponsors include Packer & Co Ltd, Pelagic, Okeland, Austal Limited, and Arlec. We are also delighted to welcome Gill Australia for their sponsorship of competitor and volunteer caps.

The regatta will culminate in the traditional Gala Lunch on Friday, 31 January, where guests will hear from Olympian Matt Wearn and enjoy the exciting finals of the Warren Jones Regatta. Tickets are now available for purchase via the event website. It promises to be a fantastic week of competitive sailing and camaraderie.