Smooth sailing for SW best juniors

The best of the South West’s junior sailors headed to Mandurah over the Easter break, with the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club hosting the as part of its annual dinghy regatta.

Attracting WA’s top youth talent, juniors from Bunbury, Busselton and Dunsborough competed among the 12 classes.

With more than 100 competitors, racing was fierce over the three-day regatta with eight heats being run for each class.

Bunbury junior sailing ace Jayden Dalton, 15, took on the might of WA junior sailing in the 420 dinghy State championship.

The first and only junior sailor admitted into SWAS, Dalton secured four race wins to take out the WA title by five points.

His influence over the regatta was profound, with two of his proteges also claiming podium finishes.

His 13-year-old sister Shannon Dalton, fresh back from winning the female title at the NSW championships, sailed in the Optimist Gold fleet against some very strong competition.

Eleven-year-old Bunbury junior Will Drew continued a stellar first season in the O’pen Bic class, due in part to regular coaching from Jayden