ISAF Youth Sailing World Champ - Four top ten finishes for Australians

by Australian Sailing on 19 Jul 2014 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship - After five days of racing at the 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Tavira Portugal, four out of eight Australian Sailing Youth Team crews finished in the top ten of their fleet. For ten out of the young team of twelve athletes, it was the Youth Worlds debut for Australia in Portugal.

The regatta, which challenged sailors with light and tricky conditions, concluded in Tavira, Portugal last night. In the early afternoon of the last day of racing a westerly breeze came through allowing three RS:X Boys and Girls races, two 29er races with a single race in the remaining fleets. Final racing commenced in a breeze that slowly built to 10-13 knots as the day progressed.

At the conclusion of the regatta, 16-year old Laser Radial sailor Alistair Young (WA) was the highest ranked Australian Youth Sailor finishing fifth with Anna Philip (VIC) following in eighth in the female Laser Radial fleet.

Victorian multi-hull SL16 sailors Michelle Bursa and Chelsea Haynes also finished eighth after thirteen races. The duo showed a strong performance, including a race win on the penultimate day of the event, in the fleet of sixteen teams, which included several former medallists.

Western Australian 420 girl’s crew of Nia Jerwood and Lisa Smith, coached by Sydney 2000 Olympic Gold medallist in the 470 class Belinda Stowell, finished a strong ninth in the 27-boat fleet.

In the 29er-class New South Welshmen Jim Colley and Shaun Connor finished the regatta on a high note with a fifth place in the final race, which put them into overall twelfth in the 30-boat fleet after thirteen races.

Youth Team returner Lachlan Gilmour (WA) and fifteen-year old helm Emerson Carlberg (WA) struggled with the light wind, which was prevalent on most days, and finished 25th. Tasmanian RS:X sailor Jock Calvert finished the event in 26th while Queenslander Lara O’Brien goes home ranked 13th in the girl’s RS:X fleet.

About the team’s performance Team Manager Brendan Todd (SA) said 'It was a challenging week for all of our sailors and a steep learning curve. It was good to see how they all supported one another and stayed focused throughout the week. The team worked hard to be their best.

This year’s Youth Team is a young team, which will need time and experience to develop and this event gave them the great opportunity to race against the World’s best in their age group. We will take home valuable racing experience as well as a lot of great memories and new friendships. It is a group of promising young sailors and I’m sure we will hear more of them in the future.'

The ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship is for sailors under the age of 19 from around the world to compete in eight events with one entry per nation. Australia was represented in each. It is the largest youth sailing regatta in the world.

Australian Sailing Youth Team Final Results:

Laser Radial Male Alistair Young (WA – FSC): fifth
(5.0, 12.0, 20.0, 7.0, 8.0, (37.0), 6.0, 5.0, 12))

Laser Radial Female Anna Philip (VIC – SSCBC): eighth
(23.0 , 16.0, 4.0, 13.0 , 4.0, 22.0, (29.0), 11.0, 6.0)

Multihull SL16 Michelle Bursa / Chelsey Haynes (VIC – SsYC/WYC): eighth
(8.0, 3.0, 5.0, 11.0, 5.0, 11.0, 9.0, 11.0, 2.0, (12.0), 1.0, 12.0, 11.0)

Girl’s 420 Nia Jerwood / Lisa Smith (WA – FSC/SoPYC): ninth
(13.0 , (15.0), 3.0, 7.0 , 9.0 , 4.0 , 5.0 , 12.0, 12.0)

Boy’s 420 Emerson Carlberg / Lachlan Gilmour (WA – RFBYC): 25th
((25.0), 21.0, 24.0,19.0,23.0, 17.0, 21.0, 19.0, 25.0)

29er Skiff Jim Colley / Shaun Connor (NSW – RPAYC/MH16SSC): 12th
((31.0 RET), 14.0, 12.0, 9.0 , 22.0. 7.0 . 15.0, 6.0 , 8.0 , 2.0 , 18.0, 11.0, 5.0)

RS:X Male Jock Calvert (TAS – RYCT): 26th
(10.0 , 16.0, 24.0, 26.0, (30.0), 27.0, 26.0, 23.0, 29.0, 29.0, 28.0, 20.0)

RS:X Lara O’Brien (QLD – RQYS): 13th
(13.0 , 14.0, 13.0, 15.0, 12.0, 11.0, (16.0), 13.0, 14.0, 13.0, 14.0, 16.0)