The Yachtsman 2017-2018 The Yachtsman 2017-2018 | Page 19

C L U B YA C H T I N G
C L U B YA C H T I N G
D AV I D L U K I N S
M E M O R I A L R E G AT TA
T
Coach vs Student in the
final of the David Lukins
Memorial Regatta
Race Results
1. Tom Spithill, Mark
Dorling, Ollie Gordon &
Murray Gordon
2. Clare Costanzo & Team
3. James Spithill & Team
4. Malcolm Parker & Team
5. Chuck (Alex) Anderson
& Team
6. Sarah Parker & Team
7. Chris Way & Team
8. Harley Walters & Team
9. James Farquharson &
Team
10. Tyler Ratcliff & Team
he David Lukins regatta was run
over the weekend of the 16th
and 17th of September 2017.
This was the eight running of the
event since its inception in 2009 to
commemorate the memory of David Lukins,
a much-valued member, volunteer and mate.
David was awarded one of the Clubs most
prestigious awards, Volunteer of the Year
award for 1998-1999.
This event has attracted some of RPAYC’s
best sailors, battling to get their name on the
beautiful David Lukins Memorial Trophy
(the largest Trophy in the club) designed by
prestigious artist John Woulf.
Just looking at the names on the trophy of
previous winning skippers and crew, you get
an appreciation of the calibre of the event as
you identify Olympic and World Champions.
At a quick glance there are:
• 4 x Silver Medallists
• 2 x Women’s Match Racing World
Champions
• 2 x Youth Match Racing World
Champions
• 1 x Moth World Champion
There are many further accolades and
achievements for past winning skippers and
crew, so much so, it would require several
more pages to try and detail!
This regatta has a strong connection with
the clubs Youth Development program, as
David Volunteered countless hours helping
shape the lives of some of those champions
mentioned above.
This year saw 10 teams compete for the
coveted title. Three skippers out of the 10
teams were past graduates of the Youth
Development Squad, some ranging back
to the early 90’s, including dual America’s
Cup winning skipper, James Spithill. Teams
competing included the current Youth
Development Squad and one team skippered
by Tyler Ratcliff representing the clubs
Intermediate Youth Development Program.
What was evident in the list of entries were
the number of families represented in this
year’s Regatta, from Skippers, crews and
race management team members showing
32
YA C H T S M A N R PAY C
the strong family connection that the Alfreds
has. Commodore Lockley said it was a “great
demonstration of how sailing is a sport for
every generation”.
Racing got underway on Saturday in a
wild 20-25 knot south westerly, that had all
crews working continuously to control their
boats and read the challenging wind shifts
that Pittwater is notorious for.
This provided some exciting racing,
particularly on the downwind with the
asymmetrical spinnakers propelling the Elliott
7’s down the course at white knuckle speeds.
Showing a near dominant performance
on the first day of racing was RPAYC, Club
Coach Tom Spithill who was the defending
title holder from 2016.
For the second and final day of racing on
Sunday, the conditions were vastly different,
with a shifting easterly putting the mark boat
team and umpires to work all day.
The last two races of the round robin
were completed, and the top four were on
equal points forcing a complicated tie-break.
Club Coach Tom Spithill was declared the
round robin winner with his brother James,
Clare Costanzo and Malcolm Parker the next
ranked skippers. Unclear if a tactical decision
or one demonstrative of competitive sibling
habits, Tom decided to re-match his brother
James. In their previous matches racing had
been close, throwing back to the pair’s days of
Youth Development training,
This left Malcolm and Clare to compete
against each other, with the winners of each
match set to battle for the trophy.
It didn’t take long for the Umpires to raise
the penalty flags when Spithill vs Spithill
entered the start. Close racing saw Tom
Spithill take victory and progress into the
finals. Similarly, Costanzo and her team were
able to take the win and would face Coach
Tom in the finals.
For the finals it was a case of Coach vs
Student, with both Spithill and Costanzo of
the Youth Development program recently
returning from representing RPAYC at the
Gov Cup and World Sailing Youth World
Match Racing Championship. In the 
first race Spithill took first blood after plenty of lead changes
right up till the finish line.
In the second race, Spithill got the early advantage off
the start line with the desired right-hand side of the track.
By the top mark, Clare had caught up, however, Spithill was
able to take the win again.
In the fight for third and fourth place saw America’s
Cup Skipper James Spithill Verse recently graduated Youth
Development Skipper Malcolm Parker take on each other
and from the first flag you could tell these guys meant
business with the intensity on water tripling!
The teams all assembled back at the Alfred’s for prize
giving, where David’s Parents Warwick and Marg, as well
sons, daughters and grand-kids all attending.
A clearly elated Tom Spithill was quick to praise his crew
in his winning speech and get one last jab at his brother
James for beating him. “This has been some of the most
enjoyable sailing I have done. This win personally means a
great to me. Dave was a huge influence on our lives both on
and off the water, and to now we have our names on David’s
Trophy again, is one of the greatest honours.”
This regatta has a way of bringing mates back together,
and I am not just talking competitors, all the volunteers,
such as the race committee, mark boat and umpires, all roles
that David loved doing…you guys are responsible for this
win as well!” said a moved Spithill.
R PAY C YA C H T S M A N
33