
Anchors aweigh as student starts quest for Queensland title
AS his namesake wrapped up a miraculous win in the America's Cup yesterday, Yeppoon youngster Blake Newton was busily preparing for his dash towards victory.
Newton has spent the past three days at the Queensland Youth Development camp in Yeppoon, learning from some of Australia's best sailing coaches ahead of the Queensland Youth Sailing Championships on the Capricorn Coast, which start today.
Ahead of the three-day meet, The Yeppoon State High student said he had fielded a ton of questions from locals asking if he was related to former Yeppoon sailor Joe Watson, who was a member of the 162nd America's Cup winning Oracle Team USA.
Team USA turned around an 8-1 deficit to complete a miraculous 9-8 victory over New Zealand yesterday.
"We're no relation. Some people have asked me today if I'm related so I asked dad and he said we weren't," Blake said.
"I've seen his name up around the place and on trophies."
Competing in the laser radial, Newton said he was hoping to improve on last year's fourth-place finish.
Newton joins 86 boats on the water, which will take part in 10 different classes.
Among the hundreds of competitors will be 14-year-old Jonno Pummell and 13-year-old Kelly Tansey, who are contesting the 29er class.
