Kiwis dominate in Japan ISAF Youth regatta

by Clifton Webb on 26 Mar 2009
Josh Porebski from Wellington wins the National Selection of Japan’s 2009 ISAF Youth World Championships. George Lane second and Rachel Basevi third overall and first women from Auckland. Coach Clifton Webb reports:

The Kiwi Team had to compete in extreme conditions in a fleet of 29 Laser Radial sailing off the city of Wakayama.

Some races were postponed due to 50 knots winds which eventually dropped to 25 knots with a wind chill factor close to 0 degrees.

This is a first for the Kiwis to be invited by the Japanese Sailing Federation to sail in their regatta and help encourage the Youth of Japan.

we will be heading to the next destination (Hamana-Lake) tomorrow night after racing and then spending a day in Kyoto before starting the next regatta.

Tonight we had some real Japanese cuisine. I (Clifton Webb) was lucky as I got food and entertainment. The entertainment was watching the three of them trying to eat raw fish and shellfish and deciding whether the green stuff was eatable and whether or not to eat the smoked eel with or without the skin.