Sail First ISAF Youth World Championships at Limassol, Cyprus - Day 2

NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team all lying top six

The 2013 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team have returned more solid results from day two of the Sail First ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships on now in Limassol, Cyprus.

The New Zealand crews are now all within the top six of their respective fleets with Isaac McHardie (Hamilton Yacht Club) and Micah Wilkinson (Ngaroto Sailing Club) still leading the SL16 event and Sam Barnett and Zak Merton (pictured above) (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club) improving to 3rd overall in the boy's 420.

Ian Neely reports; "It's been another long and tough day with the breeze up and down. The whole team is still in the hunt but it is early days yet. The team is in good spirits and ready for another day tomorrow."

Isaac and Micah have now opened up a nine point leading margin in the SL16 multihull fleet after adding a 5th, a win and a 2nd to their points tally today. There are 15 boats on the race track and the kiwi boys, with three wins and two 2nds over the first two days, have positioned themselves as the most consistent crew.

"We were fast and consistent... it was another solid day for us," say Isaac and Micah who both started sailing in the Waikato.

New Zealand improved in both the boy's 420 and the boy's Laser Radial. Sam Barnett and Zak Merton (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club) sailed three races today and have climbed from 6th to 3rd overall in the boy's 420. Opening with two 2nd places their third race was their worst so far, yet they discard the 23rd and move up the ranks.

For Andrew McKenzie (Kohimarama Yacht Club) in the Laser Radial he also improves, from 9th up to 6th, despite mixed results today in Cyprus. He placed 14th, 27th and 3rd in his three races.

Our 29er skiff sailors Markus Somerville and Jack Simpson (Wakatere Boating Club) took their first race win today and are now laying 5th overall. They were 6th and 7th in today's other two races and are now eyeing the crews just ahead close on points.

Meanwhile Olivia Mackay and Abby Goodwin (Napier Sailing Club) dip to 6th in the girl's 420 standings. After an 11th and a 5th on the water on day two.

Racing resumes on Wednesday for day three of the five day regatta.

NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team Standings: (after day two)

1st Isaac McHardie (Hamilton Yacht Club) * Micah Wilkinson (Ngaroto Sailing Club) – SL16 Multihull
6th Andrew McKenzie (Kohimarama Yacht Club) – Laser Radial
3rd Sam Barnett and Zak Merton (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club) – Boy's 420
6th Olivia Mackay and Abby Goodwin (Napier Sailing Club) – Girl's 420
5th Markus Somerville and Jack Simpson (Wakatere Boating Club) – 29er

www.isafyouthworlds.com

Each course has its own Twitter account. @ISAFyw13_Alpha will be following the Laser Radials and 29er, @ISAFyw13_Bravo will be focusing on the RS:X windsurfers and @ISAFyw13_Charli will keep an eye on the 420s and SL16 fleets.