Thriller on the way for crews at the Not the Nationals sailing regatta on the River Derwent

A tight battle between teen tyros at the Not the Nationals sailing regatta will culminate on the River Derwent on Sunday.

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RACING will go down to the wire on the Derwent on Sunday for teen sensations Harry Pilkington and Tom Fader, with a point separating the pair heading onto the final day of the Not the Nationals sailing regatta.

Sailing Send It, Pilkington is parked at the top of the Optimist leaderboard after seven races in the open class and Fader, sailing Opti Hop, is hot on his transom.

A bad day on the water by both of them would open the door for close rivals Fredi O’Donoghue (Grit) and Genevieve Strutton (Copy That) to pinch the title out from under them.

Lucy Clougher, aboard Fast Fish, is second in the Optimist dighy class heading into the final day of competition. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The Intermediate Optimist is led by Harry’s sister Ruby Pilkington in Wonder Woman II ahead of Lucy Clougher aboard Fast Fish and Charlotte Kratz on The Flash.

In the International Cadets, only one point separates Luca Groves and Sam Hooper sailing Sea-Ya, and Grace Hooper and Olive Hooper aboard Executioner, while sisters Esther and Martha Read (Jolt) are tied for third with Thomas Paynter and Harry Gregory (Vortex).

The Sharpie class is led by Tasmanian champions Kirsty Salter, her husband Julian Salter and his uncle and boat owner Stephen Salter sailing the newly-launched Snatch, from Finlay Crisp’s Dying In The Saddle.