2012 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team named

by Kristine Lederis, Yachting on 12 Apr 2012 Yachting New Zealand has announced the NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team for 2012.

Nine sailors will represent New Zealand at the prestigious ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships to be sailed at Dublin Bay Ireland 12-21 July 2012 .

The team is...
Andrew McKenzie: Male Laser Radial
Jayvee Buchanan and Matthew Morrison: Male 420
Ellie Copeland and Erica Dawson: Female 420
Tomer Simhony and Gemma Jones: Open Multihull
Alex Munro and Trent Rippey: 29er

Team Manager: Ian Neely
Coaches: Jim Maloney

The 2012 team includes some familiar names with four members, including Tomer Simhony, Ellie Copeland, Gemma Jones and Alex Munro, already having Youth World Championships experience under their belt having competed in Zadar, Croatia in 2011.

Tomer Simhony and Ellie Copeland were the top New Zealanders at last year's Youth Worlds, sailing together in the Open Multihull they finished fifth. This year they have decided to divide and conquer, each helming their own crew: Ellie in the Female 420 and Tomer remains in the multihull.

All of the sailors named today have proven to a selection panel that they are amongst New Zealand's best youth sailors in their divisions.

In preparation for the regatta the team will be involved in a busy schedule of training camps, domestic and international competition.

29er duo Alex Munro with Trent Rippey and Laser Radial representative Andrew McKenzie with training partner Matthew Kempkers have just finished competing at the RYA Youth National Championships. Andrew McKenzie dominated this event and won the Laser Radial division. Matthew was not far behind for a fifth place finish, and Alex/Trent finished seventh in the 72 boat strong 29er fleet.

Today, the same four young sailors are in Ireland for the ISA Mistubishi Motors Youth National Championships from 12-16 April. Follow their progress online at the event website.

New Zealand has a proud history of success at the ISAF Youth Worlds which dates back to 1971. Over the history of the event kiwis have returned home with a total of 42 medals including 15 Gold, 15 Silver and 12 Bronze, and this year’s team will be looking to increase that tally.

Last year, the team just missed out on the medals, but four representatives finished in the top ten.

The ISAF Youth Worlds was first held in Sweden in 1971. The 2012 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Dublin Bay, Ireland is the 42nd Championship.

Past notable winners include Americas Cup skippers, Olympic Medallists and Volvo Ocean Race sailors such as, Chris Dickson , Russell Coutts, Murray Jones, Dean Barker, Stuart Bannatyne.

Updates on the team through their preparation and leading toward the World Championships will be posted on YNZ's Facebook and YNZ's Website