BRING ON THE WA TOUR!
By Will Boulden
With COVID-19 locking down most of the world and the current situation holding us captive in WA, Alpha Racing Team is very excited to participate in the 2020/21 WA Tour and the development program.
A fantastic initiative by Swan River Sailing, and supported by the Warren Jones Foundation, the WA Tour should keep our local youth sailors progressing their skills and to further assist them in the sport of sailing. In addition to this, it is also very exciting to note that each team will have two mentors assigned to them for the summer to accelerate the athlete’s development on the water and off the water, in the professional world.
[ Local teams Conor Nicholas (Quantum Racing) & Will Boulden (Alpha Racing) competing at the 2019 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta as part of the 2019 City of Perth Festival of Sail – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography ]
The Alpha Racing Team is also very excited to see some fresh faces in the keelboat and match racing scene, and we will be eager to help and assist these new teams in any way possible with their sailing development. We want to see Team WA dominating the world scene when life continues post-covid and are excited to work together, enjoy the summer of sailing and develop as athletes alongside the rest of the WA local youth sailors.
[ The Alpha Racing Team for the 2020 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta as part of the 2020 City of Perth Festival of Sail – Ryan Donaldson, Tom Blaauw, Will Boulden (Skipper), Damian Garbowski & Alex Negri – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography ]
The Alpha Racing Team are very happy to be able to announce that we are the first confirmed team participating in the 2020/21 WA Tour and the Development Program!
Our team for this tour consists of some of WA’s elite youth sailors, having world champions and various other successes shared amongst our team. These include:
[Will Boulden onboard Indian – Photography Credit to Tom Hodge Media]
Will Boulden
SKIPPER
Previously ranked 7th in the Open World Match Racing Rankings, Multiple times Warren Jones International Youth Regatta finalist & finished 2nd in the 2018 Youth Match Racing World Championships.
[ Tom Blaauw, at the 2020 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta as part of the 2020 City of Perth Festival of Sail – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography ]
Tom Blaauw
MAIN TRIM / TACTICS
A part of Alpha Racing Team (Will Boulden, RFBYC) in 2018 when they placed 2nd in the Youth Match Racing World Champions, a part of Dave Gilmour’s team in 2017 when they placed 3rd in the World Match Racing Tour Perth Cup.
[ Niall Morrow (front), at the 2020 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta as part of the 2020 City of Perth Festival of Sail – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography ]
Niall Morrow
TRIM
Multiple podiums placings sailing for Redline Racing (Matt Jerwood, SoPYC) & DownUnder Racing (Harry Price, CYCA) across several years at World Match Racing Tour Events. A part of Alpha Racing Team in 2019 when they finished 2nd at the Warren Jones International Youth Regatta and, most recently, a part of Harry Price’s winning team at the 2020 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta.
[ Alex Negri (far right), at the 2020 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta as part of the 2020 City of Perth Festival of Sail – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography ]
Alex Negri
PIT
Has competed in multiple Warren Jones International Youth Regatta final series and World Match Racing Tour events.
[Damian Garbowski (left) after winning the 2017 World Match Racing Tour along with Cam Seagreen, Torvar Mirsky & Lachy Gilmour – Photography Credit to World Match Racing Tour]
Damian Garbowski
BOW
Three times Warren Jones International Youth Regatta finalist, Multiple podium finishes in World Match Racing Tour Events & a member of Torvar Mirsky’s (RFBYC) winning team at the 2017 World Match Racing Tour.
[ Alpha Racing Team competing at the 2020 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta as part of the 2019 City of Perth Festival of Sail – Alex Negri, Tom Blaauw, Ryan Donaldson & Will Boulden (skipper) – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography]
The 2020/21 WA Tour & Development Program is the perfect time to get your team operational and bonded, and have a really good summer of competitive local racing in both a friendly and supportive environment, before showcasing your newly acquired skills to the rest of the world when we are allowed to do so again!
I’m pleased to say that Swan River Sailing are extending the deadline for applications until next Friday, 16 October so make sure if you want to get involved you check out the Participant Prospectus and apply – all the info is on the website at www.swanriversailing.com/wa-tour
We look forward to seeing you out on the water in Perth this summer!
Cheers,
Will Boulden
Skipper of Alpha Racing Team
Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club
[Will Boulden (Alpha Racing) competing at the 2020 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta as part of the 2019 City of Perth Festival of Sail – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography ]
[ Local teams Conor Nicholas (Quantum Racing) & Will Boulden (Alpha Racing) competing at the 2020 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta as part of the 2020 City of Perth Festival of Sail – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography ]
