The 2026 Australian Youth Match Racing Championship delivered five days of thrilling competition at Royal Geelong Yacht Club, with Louis Tilly and his Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club crew emerging as deserving champions. Presented by DYSC Marine Supplies in conjunction with Australian Sailing, the event brought together seven teams from four Australian states racing in the RS21 fleet.
The championship featured some of Australia’s highest-ranked youth match racers, assembling an impressive field of talent, determination and tactical prowess. Among them was Tilly and his crew, who arrived in Geelong fresh from winning the lead-in event held a month earlier. But with a national title at stake, nothing was going to come easily.
Four days of round-robin racing saw skippers Louis Tilly, Ben Crafoord and James Hayhoe locked in a tight battle for the top positions on the leaderboard. Crafoord, sailing with Jacob Marks, Nic Livermore and Max Nearn from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, emerged as the frontrunner after finishing first in the round robin. Their consistent performance made them firm favourites heading into the finals.
Tilly and his crew of Will Hough, Will Troop and Oli Ross had other ideas, however. The team lifted their performance when it mattered most, producing a dominant display in the finals. Three closely contested races on the final day all went Tilly’s way, delivering three bullets to clinch the championship title.
Reflecting on the victory, Tilly was quick to credit his teammates. “The three guys in front of me have just done an incredible job all week. They really put in the hard yards today. They made me look pretty good… I wouldn’t rather sail with another three people in the world.”
Tilly was equally enthusiastic about the RS21 keelboat and the championship venue at Royal Geelong Yacht Club. “We love this boat. We love this place. We’ve had such a great time we’re really keen to come back.”
The event showcased the value of Royal Geelong Yacht Club’s RS21 fleet, with the one-design boats proving their ability to deliver high-quality national competition. Club Commodore Phil Francis said the championship had validated the investment. “When we bought the RS21s there was a lot of debate about whether spending that amount of money on a fleet of one-design boats was going to be worthwhile,” Francis said. “I think we’ve proven that it is worthwhile with some amazingly competitive racing.”
With identical boats placing the focus squarely on sailor skill, teamwork and tactics, the RS21 provides an accessible and competitive platform for high-calibre championships like this one. Events such as the Australian Youth Racing Championship play a vital role in encouraging participation, developing emerging talent and building pathways into the sport.
For Tilly and his crew, the venue clearly left a lasting impression, and their enthusiasm to return was a fitting endorsement of the whole experience.
Congratulations to Louis Tilly, Will Hough, Will Troop and Oli Ross on a well-earned championship victory, and to all the teams who made the 2026 Australian Youth Racing Championship such a memorable event. The championship was 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.
