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Caleb Evans returned home this week from the inaugural Para Sailing International Championships on the Gold Coast with some extra luggage but it's the experience itself that made more of an impression with the youngster.
The 17-year-old claimed gold in the singlehanded Hansa 303 para sailing, which was sailed as part of the Virtus Oceania Asia Games for elite athletes with an intellectual impairment. New Zealand athletes won 28 medals, including three golds.
Evans dominated his regatta, winning 10 of the 12 races he sailed. Although there were only two boats in his fleet, this was a significant result for someone who has been sailing for less than five years and who came up against a 25-year veteran who earlier this year won the world title in the Hansa 203 in Japan.
“It feels good to win gold," said Evans, who sails with Sailability Tauranga. "I want to thank my parents for getting me here.”
Caleb was accompanied by his father, David Evans, who received plenty of complements for his son's sailing.
"Not only did he sail exceptionally well, but he also caught the eye of all competitors, officials and spectators," David Evans said. "He smashed the perception of intellectual impairment sailors at the Southport Yacht Club, as we were told by some of their support crew they don’t have intellectual impairment sailors as part of their Sailability group.
"They were blown away by his skill level and his camaraderie. Off the water he was a great ambassador for New Zealand sailing and at the medal ceremony gained the largest cheer when announced due to his popularity.
"Caleb says that if anyone has the opportunity to go to an event like this, they should because it's awesome. He is on cloud nine with his sailing and the whole Paralympics New Zealand team experience."
Evans will soon compete at next month's Hansa 303 national championships at Lake Ngaroto (Dec 2-4).
