2013 Australian Youth Sailing Grand Prix series concludes

Finn Gilbert & Louie Collins win the Boy's 420 class in the Youth Sailing GP Series © B Malone Photography

Youth Sailing GP Series Laser 4.7 Girls winner Charlotte Llewellyn with Carrie Smith & Ella Clark © B Malone Photography

NSW takes come State Trophy

The 2014 Australian Youth Championship, held on the Mornington Peninsula from 6-10 January 2014, concluded the 2013 Youth Sailing Grand Prix regatta series. It was the third time the series was run since its start in 2010.

The Youth Sailing Grand Prix is open to Australian sailors under 19 years of age and is designed to build a strong national competition that encourages youth participation, providing young sailors with the chance to race at a number of regattas around the country against strong opposition.

"We created the Youth Sailing Grand Prix to provide Australia's youth sailors with the opportunity to compete in a national series in strong fleets to assist in their continual development," said Yachting Australia Performance Director Peter Conde.

"Australia has a proud history in youth sailing, continually producing young sailors who compete at the highest level and the Youth Sailing Grand Prix is offering additional racing incentive and the opportunity for further developing our up and coming talent" he said.

The 2013 Youth Sailing Grand Prix in the Laser 4.7 girls class was taken home by Victorian Charlotte Llewellyn, who came third in the Australian Youth Championship, ahead of fellow Victorian Eleonore Rich.

In the Laser 4.7 boys class Northern Territory sailor and Australian Youth Champion in this class Hamish Wiltshire finished the Grand Prix series in top position ahead of Victoria's William Fox.

Nicolas Connor (NSW) led the way in the Laser Radial boys with William Bates (NSW) in the runner up position. In the Laser Radial girls class Queenslander Jacinta Ainsworth took out the series ahead of her sister Elyse Ainsworth.

In the double-handed classes, Australian Champions in the 420 girls class Dana Travener and Catherine Pagett (NSW) led the series ahead of Sophie McIntosh and Demi Gilbert (NSW).

In the 420 boys class, Finn Gilbert and Louie Collins from New South Wales finished their Youth Sailing Grand Prix campaign with a win ahead of Dante Olivieri and Alex Marzano (NSW).

The 29er Australian Sailing Grand Prix was won by New South Welshmen Kurt Hansen and Harry Morton, who came second in the Australian Youth Championship. Australian Champions and Australian Sailing Youth Team members Jim Colley and Shaun Connor (NSW) came second.

The State Trophy was taken home by New South Wales (37 points) with a 3 point lead over Victoria (34 points) in second and Queensland (22 points) in third.

2013 Youth World Champions and Youth Grand Prix Winners Carrie Smith and Ella Clark, from Western Australia, presented the Youth Grand Prix certificates at the Australian Youth Championships awards ceremony on Friday night.

The Youth Sailing Grand Prix includes seven classes with sailors competing in the Laser 4.7 and Laser Radial, 420 and 29er, and potentially the Bic Techno and Hobie 16. The Bic Techno and Hobie 16 classes did not have enough entries in the 2013 series to qualify for prizes.

The Youth Sailing Grand Prix is the only Yachting Australia youth event that awards prize money -- $1000 per person as a winning crew and $500 per person for the runner up. This is designed to assist with the costs incurred campaigning with the winners required to use the funds to compete at further events.

To be eligible to win the Youth Sailing Grand Prix competitors must sail in two mandatory regattas, their individual class Australian Championship and the Australian Youth Championship. For the 2013 Youth Sailing Grand Prix athletes also had to compete in three other state based regattas.

The 2014 Youth Sailing Grand Prix series will conclude at the 2015 Australian Youth Championships, which will be held in Western Australia at Fremantle Sailing Club from 6-10 January 2014.

For more information on the Youth Sailing Grand Prix visit www.facebook.com/YouthSailingGP