Bill Burk Memorial Youth Elite Award

by Sail Canada on 31 Jan 2015 The Bill Burk Memorial Award, donated to Sail Canada in 1997 in honour of Bill Burk, recognizes outstanding youth male and female achievement in competitive sailing. Recipients of the award will have competed in National and International competition during the award year and brought recognition to Canadian competitive sailing.

The Wood brothers, Andrew and Ryan hail from West Vancouver where they race as a part of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club’s youth race team. As dedicated athletes these brothers compete internationally in the 29er class. In a 101-boat fleet at the 2014 29er Worlds, this duo finished 21st overall. In addition to their performance at the 2014 Worlds Andrew and Ryan finished top 10 at the 29er North Americans and Midwinters and 18th of 30 in the 2014 ISAF Youth Worlds. In 2013 the boys were the Canadian Youth Champions and took home Silver at the Canada Summer Games. As young models of dedication, hard work and success, Sail Canada also awarded the Wood Brothers with the Sailor of the Month for March of 2014.

This young team is among the rising stars in Canada; they’re performance at the 2014 World Championships included a race win as did their performance at the 2014 ISAF Youth Worlds. Under the watchful care of Kevin Black (Sail Canada Coach of the Year) this team is an emerging talent looking to excel in the years ahead.

I have had the pleasure of coaching Ryan and Andrew over the last few years. They are unique in that they both absolutely love to learn. They are not only very coachable, but also learn from their competitors, their training partners, the internet, from each other, and from older experienced sailors. The Wood brothers have a natural appetite for knowledge, and to improve their skills and performance. This attribute of constantly wanting to improve, combined with a love of training and great work ethic will make for an exciting future with many great results to come. – Kevin Black, Coach RVYC

17 year old Radial Sailor Antonia Lewin-LaFrance from Chester, Nova Scotia had a strong 2014 season which culminated in her winning the Canadian Youth Championships in the Female Radial class; she finished eighth overall in a regatta of 114 boats. In addition to Canadian Youths, Antonia finished first at the RNSYS Kennedy Cup, 12th at the SMSC By Wind Regatta and eighth at the BBYC ARK Regatta.

Antonia has since been invited into the National Youth Training Group, giving her opportunities to work with National Team Coaches and train with National Team athletes during training camps. Antonia will use this experience and her hard work and determination as she trains towards her goal of qualifying for the 2015 Youth World Championships.

Antonia has her eyes set on a performance at ISAF Youth Worlds, noting she wants to be mentally and physically prepared. She ads - 'I want to perform, and no longer have the mindset of 'it’s for the experience'.

The 2014 Bill Burk Memorial Youth Elite Award Recipients are; brothers Ryan and Andrew Wood from RVYC and Antonia Lewin-LaFrance from RNSYS. Antonia will be attending the Sail Canada Rolex Sailor of the Year Awards to receive her award.

Sail Canada is proud to welcome many distinguished guests at the Sail Canada Rolex Sailor of the Year Awards on Friday February 6th, including the Minister of State (Sport), The Honourable Bal Gosal. Event Details