New Zealand wins Laser Standard Youth World Championships

by Jodie Bakewell-White and Sail-World on 24 Jul 2011 New Zealand sailor, Sam Meech has won the Laser Standard Youth World Championships, La Rochelle, France.

The final day of competition was another exceptional sailing day in La Rochelle.

Meech is a NZL Sailing Team Laser sailor and is a regular competitor on the senior tour - the ISAF World Cup circuit.

A WNW breeze of 14-16 knots with gusts up to 18 knots and a beautiful sunshine added up to a great day on water. Two good races were run again for all fleets.

Of 12 races sailed in the world championship, Meech won eight, finished second in another three and his worst place was a fifth in the penultimate race of the regatta. Despite dominating the regatta, Meech only won by 9pts from Alex Mills-Barton from Great Britain. Martin Evans, also from Great Britain, claimed the bronze 18pts behind Meech.

'It is really cool to have won the regatta. I went to the event aiming to win, so I am really happy to have achieved it', says Meech.

'The conditions were great for sailing, although we could have done without the rain earlier on in the week. We ended up getting about 10-15knots just about every day so it was easy to get all the races completed.'

More accustomed to competing alongside the world’s best in the Olympic class senior Laser fleet at ISAF World Cup Sailing Regattas, Meech fits the under-21 age bracket required to compete for this Junior World title, and he made it look easy.

Meech explains, 'The format of four qualifying days made all the results really close. It was really good for me as it kept the pressure on right until the last race.'

Up against 147 junior Laser sailors from around the world, the young kiwi took a total of eight race wins across the twelve race series, and only finished outside the top two in one race. While the title wasn’t in the bag until the final day, Meech finished the regatta nine points clear of the silver medallist,

Meech, who represents the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club is the youngest of five Laser sailors in Yachting New Zealand’s NZL Sailing Team. In 2009 he won gold for New Zealand at the prestigious ISAF Youth World Championships and was named joint winner of the 2009 New Zealand Young Sailor of the Year.

Meech adds this junior world title to his previous best result in 2011 which was an impressive fourth place at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Regatta in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

He explains what’s on next:- 'I am now going to sail in Weymouth for a week and then I am back in New Zealand until the ISAF Worlds in Perth.'

Two more kiwis were in La Rochelle for the event including Spencer Loxton, who placed 30th overall and Michael Cate, who finished in 56th.

Final overall results for the Standard Youth World and European Championships:

1. Meech Sam, NZL; World Champion
2. Mills-Barton Alex, GBR; European Champion
3. Evans Martin, GBR
4. Sulkowski Ki-Raphael, AUS
5. Marrai Francesco, ITA
6. Elliott Luke, AUS
7. Sailer Matthias, AUT
8. Pellejero Tomas, ARG
9. Girod Guillaume, SUI
10. Wetherell Jack, GBR

Complete list of results available on the event website