Tasmanians win Australian Schools Teams titles
Final Day 4: Tasmania's 'The Hutchins' team defend their title, winning for the fourth time out of the last six Australian Schools Teams Racing Championship. 
'Racing on Sydney Harbour - Australian School Teams Racing 2008'
Australian Yachting
The championship saw extremes of conditions, losing the first day to too much wind and the last to no wind but still the regatta was felt by all to have been a huge success with only four races short of a full series. Each of the 16 teams raced at least 13 races over the weekend in breezes ranging from 4 - 18 knots. 
Racing was postponed most of the final day whilst waiting for breeze. One race was sailed in the single puff that swept through the harbour before racing was finally abandoned at 1:30pm.
The sailors spent the days on the large motor boat pictured below which provided shade catering facilities. Between races there was time for the teams to mix and make new friends from different parts of the Country. The teams changed in and out of the boats alongside the motor boat, a system that worked really well. 
Tayla Lovering from Kangaroo Island Community College explained how much she enjoyed sailing the RS Feva boats. "They are great, really easy responsive and they hold position when stationary easier than other boats we've sailed for teams racing".
The Tasmanian Teams showed exceptional skills finishing first and second overall. The Team Manager of the winning Hutchins School, Murray Jones explained the reasons for their success. "The top teams from the different schools in South Tasmania train against each other regularly which pushes the level higher. The sailors are all very committed and determined. The helms are all top Laser sailors and everyone in the team works on their fitness between sailing sessions."
Team Captain of The Hutchins, Elliot Noye explained what he most likes about teams racing, "I most like the team work and having a common goal."
Matt Schofield from the silver medal winning team of St Virgils Guilford said "It feels pretty good to do well but we really should have won. I enjoy sailing, especially racing and the adrenaline when you win."
LCGS Team Captain, Simon Legge and his team explained why they like teams racing, "It's really exciting because it's fast, intense, competitive really close racing making you good at boat handling and rules"
The 2008 event was hosted by Woollahra Sailing Club in NSW 11th - 14th July. 
by Laura Baldwin, Yachting Australia 
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