When Jake Morgan was looking for a partner to race sailing boats with a little under two years ago, he knew exactly who to turn to.
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His old friend Grace Bunyan.
The Figtree High School students had known each other for a while, with Morgan previously encouraging Bunyan to take up sailing.
With Morgan's partnership with his older brother Kade coming to an end, it didn't take long for Jake to reach out to Bunyan.
"We've been friends for a lot of years," Jake Morgan said. "I got her into sailing and needed a crew, so we said we'd go together.
"It's great sailing with her, she's very good at what she does and we've known each other for so long, we know what each other are like."
The partnership paid dividends this past racing season, with the pair claiming the NSW State Championship in their flying ant skiff and finishing fourth at the Australian titles in January.
The journey to the state title was a tough one. With the competition held over a number of weekends, competitors must consistently place among the top of the standings to secure the title.
The pair, who sail out of Illawarra Yacht Club entered the final weekend in the lead and Morgan said it was a fantastic feeling to cross the finish line ahead of their closest rivals to secure the title.
"The first weekend was a really good weekend, but the next weekends were tougher with changing winds. On the last weekend we were able to put it all together and get the win.
"The boat behind us was three points behind so we just had to beat her in the last race. As soon as we crossed the line in front of her, it was relief, we had worked hard for it."
After claiming success in the flying ant division, Morgan, 14, is looking to progress to the more challenging boats raced by older sailors.
He has had immediate success, skippering a 13 foot skiff to third place at the recent NSW CHS Championships.
"I'd like to slowly move into the 13 foot skiff boats. They're raced more by older teenagers, guys that are 18 years old, so it will be a gradual process."
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Cameron Mee
Sports reporter at the Canberra Times
Sports reporter at the Canberra Times
