“Joel Beashel Leads the Way on Day 1 of Zhik Combined High Schools Sailing Championships”

The Zhik Combined High Schools (CHS) Sailing Championships kicked off at the Belmont 16ft Sailing Club with an exciting Day 1 of racing. Despite a smaller fleet this year, the competition was as fierce as ever at the top of the leaderboard.

Joel Beashel from Morisset High School made a strong start to defend his title, securing the overall top spot after Day 1 with two podium finishes in Race 1 and Race 2. Coming from a family with a rich sailing history, Joel is aiming to make history by becoming the only competitor to win the event three times, having previously claimed victory in 2021 and 2023.

In Race 1, Connor Radford from Merewether High School impressed the crowd with his Wingfoil skills, finishing first across the line and on corrected time. Joel Beashel and his crew followed closely behind in second place, with Keisha Day and Heidi Bates tying for third place on corrected time.

Race 2 saw Joel Beashel and his team sail a near-perfect race to claim the win, with Aidan Nosworthy and Archer Sacre rounding out the podium on corrected time.

Special mention goes to Zhik, the naming right sponsor of the event, for their continued support of youth sailing in Australia. The race organizers are proud to have partnered with such a prestigious sponsor for the seventh consecutive year.

As the competition moves into Day 2, sailors are gearing up for another day of thrilling racing with similar conditions forecasted. Stay tuned for more updates and full results from the Zhik CHS Sailing Championships.