Trophies awarded at ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Tavira
by ISAF 20 Jul 2014 17:39 BST
14-18 July 2014
The 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship has set new grounds for the regatta with Tavira, Portugal playing host to a record number of nations and sailors as the curtain was drawn on the event at the closing ceremony.
Tavira's Town Hall square played host to the closing ceremony on 18 July and saw the achievements of all 367 sailors from 67 nations celebrated.
Spain lifted the Nations Trophy for the first time in their history as they celebrated four medals from the eight classes racing in the Algarve.
Five days of intense competition saw 86 races completed with the finest youth sailors on the planet taking the honours.
The ISAF Bengt Julin Trophy was awarded to South Africa's Brandon Wijtenburg and Todd Fisher who had demonstrated good sportsmanship, respect, graciousness, helpfulness and friendliness to their fellow competitors.
First awarded in 1990, the ISAF Bengt Julin Trophy is a unique trophy which is awarded to a competitor or a National Team that has done the most to foster understanding and displaying attributes that are encouraged at the ISAF Youth Worlds.
Wijtenburg and Fisher were nominated by their peers and received the award from ISAF Vice President Nazli Imre.
Alongside the medal presentations special thanks was given to event sponsors, volunteers and boat suppliers who made the 44th edition of the ISAF Youth Worlds possible.
ISAF Vice-President Nazli Imre closed the event and handed the ISAF flag over to Langkawi, Malaysia, host venue of the 2015 ISAF Youth Worlds.
NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team update by Jodie Bakewell-White, Yachting New Zealand
Standing on the podium for New Zealand this year are Markus Somerville (Wakatere Boating Club) and Isaac McHardie (Wakatere Boating Club and Hamilton Yacht Club) who, despite the tricky conditions, have sailed consistently well across all five days of the regatta to secure the bronze medal in the 29er skiff class.
"We're happy, and relieved, to be on the podium tonight," says Markus Somerville.
In the 30-strong fleet the pair this year gathered no less than nine top six race finishes across the 13 race series. They shared the podium with France, who took the gold and USA who took the silver.
Both Somerville and McHardie now have two ISAF Youth Worlds medals in their trophy cupboard each having won a medal in 2013 as well. (McHardie in the multihull and Somerville in the 29er)
SL16 multihull pair Micah Wilkinson (Ngaroto Sailing Club) and Jack Rogers (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) finished strongly today to climb into 5th overall for a top five finish to the regatta.
After an average first day in the 57-strong boy's Laser radial fleet Trent Rippey improved his race results and his overall standing as the regatta unfolded and this continued through the final day. The Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club representative has finished 8th overall.
Murray's Bay Sailing Club windsurfer, Patrick Haybittle has come away from his first ISAF Youth worlds experience in 17th. He says, "It's been and excellent event and great learning curve. It has been frustratingly light, but great competition."
Also on debut at the ISAF Youth Worlds was girls' windsurfer Xanthe Bowater (Naval Point Club Lyttelton/Takapuna Boating Club) who returned consistent results throughout to end the series in 16th place.
Ali Nightingale, from Canterbury's Charteris Bay Yacht Club has ended the regatta in 23rd. She says; "I've learned heaps from my first ISAF Youth Worlds regatta, and I'm really looking forward to the upcoming Radial Youth Class World Champs in Poland next week."
In the boy's double-handed 420 classes Sam Barnett and Zak Merton, both from the Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club wrapped up the regatta in 17th overall and will go on to compete in their class world championships from here.
Sam Barnett says; "It's been a really tough week for us and we learned a lot which can only help us in the future. We are looking forward to the 420 Open Worlds in Travemunde next week where we'll be striving for a better result."
In the girl's 420 Olivia Mackay and Abby Goodwin (Napier Sailing Club) placed 18th overall ending the regatta on a high note with their best race of the regatta crossing the line in 3rd.
Team Manager Ian Neely echoes the sailor's comments, "It was a tough event in conditions we rarely sail in. The sailors all persevered and learnt a lot about how to sail in the soft breezes."
"It is fantastic for Isaac and Markus to win bronze and great to see many of the team performing so well at the end."
Australian Sailing Youth Team update by Cora Zillich, Australian Sailing
After five days of racing at the 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Tavira Portugal, four out of eight Australian Sailing Youth Team crews finished in the top ten of their fleet. For ten out of the young team of twelve athletes, it was the Youth Worlds debut for Australia in Portugal.
At the conclusion of the regatta, 16-year old Laser Radial sailor Alistair Young (WA) was the highest ranked Australian Youth Sailor finishing fifth with Anna Philip (VIC) following in eighth in the female Laser Radial fleet.
Victorian multi-hull SL16 sailors Michelle Bursa and Chelsea Haynes also finished eighth after thirteen races. The duo showed a strong performance, including a race win on the penultimate day of the event, in the fleet of sixteen teams, which included several former medallists.
Western Australian 420 girl's crew of Nia Jerwood and Lisa Smith, coached by Sydney 2000 Olympic Gold medallist in the 470 class Belinda Stowell, finished a strong ninth in the 27-boat fleet.
In the 29er-class New South Welshmen Jim Colley and Shaun Connor finished the regatta on a high note with a fifth place in the final race, which put them into overall twelfth in the 30-boat fleet after thirteen races.
Youth Team returner Lachlan Gilmour (WA) and fifteen-year old helm Emerson Carlberg (WA) struggled with the light wind, which was prevalent on most days, and finished 25th. Tasmanian RS:X sailor Jock Calvert finished the event in 26th while Queenslander Lara O'Brien goes home ranked 13th in the girl's RS:X fleet.
About the team's performance Team Manager Brendan Todd (SA) said "It was a challenging week for all of our sailors and a steep learning curve. It was good to see how they all supported one another and stayed focused throughout the week. The team worked hard to be their best.
This year's Youth Team is a young team, which will need time and experience to develop and this event gave them the great opportunity to race against the World's best in their age group. We will take home valuable racing experience as well as a lot of great memories and new friendships. It is a group of promising young sailors and I'm sure we will hear more of them in the future."