Issue date
The Laser Radial Boys’ and Girls’ fleets at the 2013 Sail First ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Limassol, Cyprus will be the largest with 97 boats expected to take to the Cypriot waters.
Fifty six Laser Radial Boys’ will be aiming for glory whilst 41 Radial Girls’ will take to the start line on 15 July to represent their country with racing coming to a climax on 19 July.
Laser Radial Boys
New Zealand’s Andrew McKenzie showed glimpses that he could have been a contender for the podium at the 2012 ISAF Youth Worlds but through his own omission it did not go the way he planned, “I got a lot of useful experience in Dublin. The Youth Worlds is an event very different to any other I’ve ever done so I sort of know what it’s like and I’ve learnt from that. I learnt my lesson pretty hard but I’m looking forward to it this year and it should be good.”
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The Kiwi has been building for the event by taking in ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres and training hard over recent months, but the journey for a 2013 podium finish began well in advance, “I’ve been building up to it for the last three years in the Laser. It’s been all I’ve been thinking about and it would mean a lot to me.
“It’s the World Champs so all of the best Under 19s in the World are going to be there so I’m hoping I can put into place everything I’ve learnt and that the training pays off for me.”
Making a return in the boys’ fleet is 2012 Champion Mark Spearman (AUS).
The Australian took a memorable final race gold at the 2012 edition forcing overnight leader Mitchell Kiss (USA) to the back of the fleet. The Australian kept a close eye on him throughout and whilst Spearman discarded his 51st the American counted his 52nd and dropped out of the medals.
“Going into my second Youth Worlds I’m feeling really well prepared,” said Spearman. “I’ve had a whole year of training with really good training partners and good coaches at Fremantle and Royal Freshwater Bay Sailing Clubs that has all helped to set me up for this event.
“I'm excited to see how much everyone has improved since last year and just looking forward to the general atmosphere of the Youth Worlds.”
Spearman recently sailed at the European Radial Youth Championship in Split, Croatia alongside several other Youth Worlds prospects. Even though he started brightly the Australian faded on the final day and Polish representative Filip Ciszkiewicz took the title.
“Despite being top five for the entire regatta I dropped to 11th on the last day,” Spearman added, “this taught me a lot about big fleet racing and sticking to my routine throughout the event and shows just how close everyone is this year. If I sail really well and keep to my game plan, there is no reason why I can't win the title again.”
With the likes of Ciszkiewicz bringing in good form from Split as well as silver medallist Joel Rodriguez (ESP) and bronze medallist Juan Carlos Perdomo (PUR) Spearman doesn’t believe he has the edge, “There are so many sailors at the top level going this year that for people to be up the front they will need to sail their own race and not target anyone. Saying this, I doubt I will be targeted any more than anyone else but may be watched more closely on the race course because of winning last year.”
Argentina’s Santiago Falasca will be aiming for a strong regatta having won gold at the 2012 Under 18 Laser Standard World Championship. This added to solid performances at the Central and South American Laser Championships in 2011 and 2012 has put him on the right track for Limassol.
“I want to go home after this championship knowing that I did everything in my power to achieve the best possible result,” said Falasca. “If that happens, I'll be satisfied. It is difficult to predict a result without knowing most of my competitors, but getting a position within the first 10 would be very rewarding.”
Of the 2012 competitors some of the returnees include Kaarle Tapper (FIN), Juanky Perdomo (PUR), Hugh Macrae (CAN) and Just Van Aanholt (AHO).
The Laser Radial Boys’ Athlete Participation Athletes are Owen Siese (BER), Roberto Briffa (MLT), Velick Manhica (MOZ), Luka Tosic (SLO), Bushtyan Mykyta (UKR) and Alberto Lados (URU).
Links
ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship
www.isafyouthworlds.com
ISAF Athlete Participation Programme
www.isafyouthworlds.com/app.
ISAF Youth Worlds Facebook site:
www.facebook.com/ISAFYouthWorlds
ISAF Youth Worlds YouTube
www.youtube.com/ISAFChannel
International Sailing Federation (ISAF)
www.sailing.org
Editors Notes
The ISAF Youth Worlds was first held in Sweden in 1971. The 2013 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Limassol, Cyprus will be the 43rd edition of the championship.
Past notable winners include American’s Cup skippers, Chris Dickson (NZL), Russell Coutts (NZL), Dean Barker (NZL); Olympic medallists, Robert Scheidt (BRA), Amelie Lux (GER), Ben Ainslie (GBR), Iain Percy (GBR), Alessandra Sensini (ITA), Elise Rechichi (AUS) and Tessa Parkinson (AUS); Volvo Ocean Race sailors like Stuart Bannatyne (NZL) and Richard Clarke (CAN). The most successful ISAF Youth World Champions are Great Britain’s Sally Cuthbert and Poland’s Zofia Klepacka having won four successive titles in the Laser II and Mistral respectively.
Great Britain is the current holder of the Nations Trophy, awarded annually to the top performing nation at the Youth Worlds. France is the most success nation through the history of the Championship, winning the Nations Trophy on a record 12 occasions and holding a record 70 medals: 22 gold, 30 silver and 18 bronze.
