ISAF Youth Sailing Worlds - Kieran Martin crowned RS-X Boys champion

by Matt Carter on 19 Jul 2013 At the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Limassol, RYA Volvo Team GBR’s Kieran Martin has today (Thursday 18 July) been crowned RS:X boys champion.

The 18-year-old windsurfer from Cheadle entered today’s final race of the day, race 12 of the 13 race series, needing to finish inside the top 13 to clinch the world title and with the young windsurfer crossing the finish line pumping his fist in fourth – the world title was his.

'It’s amazing - I actually can’t believe that I’m the ISAF Youth World Champion,' expressed Martin.

'To win the regatta with a race to spare at such a massive event as the ISAF Youth Worlds is unbelievable. I have put together a great series and have had such a fantastic week of racing here in Cyprus – I still can’t quite believe what has happened!'

The Carsington Water Sailing club superstar entered today’s penultimate day of the regatta with a 13 point advantage over closest rival Tugaryev Oleksandr from Ukraine. Revelling in 15-20 knots and choppy conditions in Cyprus Bay, the British windsurfer carried on his consistent form posting a 1-3-4 to claim the World title by a staggering 20 points with one race still to go at this 43rd edition of the Championships.

'I entered today’s races no different to any other day. Even though I had a nice cushion going into today, I still had a lot to do as there are so many great sailors in the fleet. Scoring a bullet in the first race of the day was a great confidence boost and it made the day a lot less pressurised.'

Martin continued: 'Crossing the finish line in fourth place in the last race of the day was just an incredible feeling as I knew I had won! I would like to thank my parents for all the support they have given me and my Coach, Oli [Woodcock], for all his help and support over the years.'

'I have been wanting this for so long and have put in so much hard work over the past few years to get to where I am now and it’s such a great feeling to know that all the hard work in the gym and out on the water has finally paid off.'

Oli Woodcock, RS:X Windsurfing coach, added: 'Kieran has sailed a fantastic regatta with consistency being the key across the last four days of racing. This is the one regatta where I haven’t had a boy win a medal and I think the last podium finish for Great Britain in the Men’s RS:X event was double Olympic medallist Nick Dempsey back in 1998 in South Africa where he won bronze - so it really is a fantastic achievement.'

'He has trained extremely hard over the winter months in the cold and icy conditions so he thoroughly deserves the world title and he should be extremely proud of himself and I can definitely see an Olympic Champion in the making!'

Duncan Truswell, RYA Youth Racing Manager, added: 'I am delighted for Kieran, he has sailed a great regatta this week - he has been very consistent and not taken any unnecessary risks and at the end of the week that has paid off for him. After the disappointment of last year when he had all the potential and made a few costly errors to see him win this year is all the better. He has worked hard to achieve this, he's trained hard and I know he and his family have made a lot of sacrifices, it’s great to see it pay off!'

All classes have one final race of the Sail First ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships tomorrow (Friday 19 July).

RYA Volvo Team GBR Squad for the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships 2013, Limassol, Cyprus (13th-20th July):

420
Boys: Tim Riley (Warsash SC)/Luke Burywood (Lymington Town SC & HISC)
Girls: Annabel Cattermole (Welwyn Garden City SC)/Bryony-Bennett Lloyd (Hickling Broad SC)

29er: Mimi El-Khazindar (Lymington Town Yacht Club)/Ben Batten (Lymington Town SC)

RS:X
Boys: Kieran Martin (Carsington Water SC)
Girls: Saskia Sills (Roadford Lake SC)

Laser Radial
Boys: Thomas Williams (Shotwick SC)
Girls: Ellie Meopham (Fishguard Bay SC)

SL16 Catamaran
James Henson (Weston SC )/Olivier Greber (Pevensey Bay RYA website