British Youth sailors pursue ISAF Youth World Championships selection
by Imogen Stanley 27 Aug 2015 16:22 BST
29-31 August 2015
Jamie Calder © Paul Wyeth / RYA
The RYA ISAF Youth World Championships Selection Event will take place at Hayling Island Sailing Club this bank holiday weekend (29-31 August).
The top British sailors from each class were invited to attend the ISAF Selection event off the back of the RYA Youth National Championship that were held at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (4-10 April).
Some 117 sailors will be on Hayling Island, all with a chance of being selected to represent the British Youth Sailing Team at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships, Langkawi, Malaysia (27 December 2015 – 3 January 2016). A number of famous British faces won the ISAF Youth Worlds and went on to Olympic success including Ben Ainslie, Iain Percy and Sarah Ayton.
Only one boat in each class can represent Great Britain at the prestigious international event so the battle will be on from the very start of racing on Saturday (29 August).
RS:X
The Wilson siblings, from Christchurch, Daniel and Emma were top placed boy and girl respectively at the RYA Youth Nationals in the windsurfing RS:X class and will be looking for a repeat performance.
Over the summer Emma won U17 European silver although was fourth overall which was not a spot she enjoyed: "After Poland I left very determined not come 4th again! So for the past 3-4 weeks I have been based in Weymouth improving my fitness and techniques on the water."
In the mixed fleet Emma's aim is to not only win herself an ISAF spot but also put in a top performance within the boys' standings: "My aim is to qualify for ISAFs but I would also like to push the boys and see if I can beat them! But most importantly to have fun!"
Daniel has also been racing over the summer, finishing 22nd at the RS:X Youth World Windsurfing Championships in Gydnia, Poland (11-18 July): "The racing in the summer was very tough, I have learned to lead international fleets and now have to be more consistent throughout the week."
Although a dominant force back in April Daniel does not underestimate any of his rivals: "All the boys are very good in their conditions so it will be hard work to stay ahead but my aim is to win."
Challenging the Wilson siblings will be EUROSAF team members James Hatcher (Bristol Corinthian) and Emily Hall (Notts County SC).
29er
Compared to other classes, there are no stand-out favourites in the 29er. Any pair who puts together a winning series and performs under the pressure will end up on top.
"The 29er fleet is very competitive, and any of the boats entered could win the event if they sail at their best," said James Grummet (Burwain SC).
Grummet who sails with Daniel Budden (Pwllheli SC), were the top British performers at the 29er World Championships in Pwllheli earlier this month, finishing fourteenth and will be in the mix. Alongside them, Bobby Hewitt and Harvey Martin, who were the top placed team at the RYA Youth Nationals attending these trials, will be challenging for selection.
As one of the younger teams, the pressure is not too great explains Hewitt (Leigh and Lowton): "Luckily, we're young enough to have a go next year so are probably not feeling as much pressure as the older teams, however we will be giving it our best shot!"
"Rivals wise, there are many fast teams at the moment," continues Derbyshire's Martin.
These fast rivals include 29er European silver medallists Crispin Beaumont and Tom Darling.
Vying for the top spot in the girls' 29er and hoping to fill the shoes of Mimi El-Khazindar-Emma Loveridge are Hayling Island local team Courtney Bilbrough and Harriet Ward.
Bilbrough and Ward have had a varied summer, including a third place finish at the 29er Worlds and will be hoping to put everything they have learned into practice comments Bilbrough: "We've had an up and down summer as we didn't perform as well as we would've liked to at Europeans but we had a good nationals and worlds which has helped us to build towards the selector, due to these successes we feel prepared."
The small fleet will mean every point counts and they are prepared for that explains Ward: "Our main goal for the weekend is to become the first girls and get the ISAF place but we are prepared for some tough close racing as it will be a small fleet and were going to try our best and trust our skills and the amount of preparation that we have done for this weekend."
Also challenging for an ISAF spot are Hannah Bristow (Leigh and Lowton) and Emily Covell, as well as Phoebe Connellan (Rutland) and Sophie Otter (Grafham).
Laser Radial
Leading the boys' Laser Radial challenge will be 2015 Laser Radial Youth European Champion, Jamie Calder from Scotland, he followed this up with a tenth place finish at the Radial Youth Worlds in Canada.
"In terms of goals for this weekend the obvious one would be to win the event. Having been at the ISAF Youth Worlds last year I would love to go again. By no means will this be an easy goal as there are several very good sailors in the fleet so I will have to be on my best form to win. I am looking forward to it!" said Calder who finished 18th in 2014.
Just one place behind Calder at the Worlds, in eleventh, was Welsh sailor Daniel Whiteley.
Whiteley finished fifth at the EUROSAFs and has taken some learning forward from both events which he will look to action at the Trials: "I definitely enjoyed them [EUROSAFs]. The racing there came with its challenges but the event has emphasised the importance of keeping a clear head when the pressure is on, which should me in Hayling during the final few races.
"I've also learned that hitting marks, as well as picking up letters on the scoreboard really doesn't help when you're trying to put together a good series and there are far easier ways of making that extra boat length," concludes Whiteley.
EUROSAF team member Karyna Manuel (Grafham Water) and Stokes Bay's Chloe Barr will both be looking for that one ISAF Youth Worlds spot in the girls' Laser Radial.
420
The 420 fleet is another with a number of top contenders, both EUROSAF team members will be in contention Robbie and Alex King (Warsash) and Dan Atherton (Gunnard) and Matt Viney (Cardiff Bay).
Max Clapp (Royal Southern) and Ross Banham (Bewl Valley), the top boy finishes at the RYA Youths back in April. They are currently leading the National Championships in Restronguet and are on good form.
In the girls' 420, EUROSAF silver medallists Jenny Cropley (Royal Lymington) and Emma Baker (Weir Wood) are favourites to take the top spot, although they will face stiff competition from Katie Davies (Itchenor) and Grace Summers (Emsworth).
Racing starts on the 29 August and continues over the bank holiday weekend to 31 August. The ISAF selected sailors will be announced on Monday (31 August). In line with the selection policy, the Spitfire selection will take place later this year.
You can follow the event on the website, British Youth Sailing Team Facebook page and Twitter @RYAYouthRacing.