NQ Junior Sailing Championships

Eight junior sailors from Mackay Yacht Club competed in the 2009 North Queensland Junior Sailing Championships, held at the Port Denison Sailing Club in Bowen last weekend.

Sailors from Yeppoon to Cairns competed in strong winds in the five race, two day series for the honour of being named North Queensland Champion, and for selection in the NQ Team for the National Championships.

Whitsunday sailors took the honours in Division 1 and 2, with Mackay sailors Tori Stephenson and Lucy Osborne winners of Division 3. However, a race organiser commented that all competitors deserved a medal for racing in the heavy wind conditions.

Mackay sailors Jack Turnbull, Dane Bulder, Cody Steindl and Ty Stephenson, with Ben Osborne as first reserve, have earned the right to represent North Queensland at the 2009 Sabot Nationals in Gosford NSW this Christmas. The Mackay Juniors revelled in being able to race in strong winds without the dangerous ocean conditions experienced in Mackay with similar wind strengths. The young sailors said it was "awesome to sail so fast that the boats were humming" and "a great experience, I learnt heaps".

A Mackay Yacht Club representative congratulated the local competitors: "Well done to all, this is a tremendous performance by these young sailors who are only into their second year of competitive sailing. It is important now that we fully support the junior sportspeople who will compete at the National Championships."