Seldén supports Emerging Nations through the 470 World Championships
by International 470 Class Association 22 Aug 08:30 BST
Seldén supports Emerging Nations through the 470 World Championships © Junichi Hirai
Ahead of the 470 World Championships, the 470 Class organised an Emerging Nations Clinic in Enoshima, providing developing teams with a valuable opportunity to prepare for the challenges of championship-level racing.
The clinic brought together five teams from Emerging Nations and was led by 470 Class President Igor Marenic, who shared his extensive experience and knowledge with the sailors throughout the preparation. The programme focused on practical training, racing skills and helping the teams build confidence ahead of the World Championships.
Support continued throughout the event, with the 470 Class President also working with the teams on the water during the World Championships and providing advice and guidance as they competed against the world's best sailors.
The impact of the initiative was clear in the results, with two of the five teams participating in the Emerging Nations Clinic going on to qualify for the Gold Fleet at the World Championships.
Teams: Thailand: Navee THAMSOONTORN & Nichapa WAIWAI, South Korea: Na Kyung LEE & Hae Seong KIM, Philippines: Edgar VILLAPAÑA & Coleen Jem FERRER, Angola: Matias MONTINHO & Manuela PAULO, Pakistan: Nadine Xerxes AVARI & MEHBOOB.
"The Emerging Nations Clinic is one of the initiatives that I am particularly proud of because it gives sailors from developing programmes the opportunity to learn, gain confidence and experience what it takes to compete at a World Championship", said Igor Marenic, President of the 470 Class.
"It was fantastic to see the teams improving throughout the week and, especially, to see two of them qualify for the Gold Fleet. For us as a Class, this is exactly what the Emerging Nations programme is about: creating opportunities and helping more sailors reach their potential."
Following the World Championships, Seldén further supported all five participating teams by providing equipment vouchers. The vouchers will help the teams continue their development and prepare for future training and racing, covering three spinnaker poles, one boom and one mast in total.
The support from Seldén provides practical assistance to teams that are continuing to build their programmes and compete internationally, while also reinforcing the importance of collaboration between the 470 Class and its partners in developing the next generation of sailors.
"We are grateful to Seldén for supporting the Emerging Nations programme", added Marenic. "Equipment is a very important part of our sport, and this support can make a real difference for teams that are developing their programmes. It shows that our partners share our commitment to making 470 sailing more accessible and creating opportunities for sailors from all over the world."
With the combination of coaching, on-water support and practical equipment assistance, the initiative aims to give emerging teams the tools and confidence they need to compete at the highest level.
The 470 Class would like to thank Seldén for its continued support for the development of Emerging Nations and the future of 470 sailing.