Justina in a class of her own

by Ivan Agnew, Times Online on 5 May 2006 Former Olympic Tornado champion Rex Sellers had cause to be proud when his 16-year-old daughter Justina was selected to represent New Zealand at the World Youth Sailing Championships in Weymouth, England, in July.

Justina will contest he new RSX sailboard event, which has replaced the Mistral and offers an extra two square metres of sail.

She first joined the Howick Sailing Club aged 11, sailing Optimists and follows in the wake of her mother Bev, and stepbrother, Ross Sly, in crewing with Rex at World Hobie Cat 16 championships.

Justina took up boardsailing just 18 months ago, the Macleans College student joining the Takapuna club where she trains alongside some of the country’s best in the sport under the watchful eye of coach Matt McCormack on weekends. They include Bucklands Beach legend Barbara Kendall, Anna Eason, Hayley Thom and Stephanie Williams.

As the baby of the group, Justina says she has 'learned heaps,' not only from her coach and Kendall, but top men like Thomas Ashley and Jon-Paul Tobin.

'They’re very encouraging. All you have to do is ask and they’ll help you out,' she says.

'It’s also great having someone of Barbara’s standing there because it attracts boardsailors from overseas to train here. Last summer we had sailors from America, Germany and Canada.'

Justina considers herself fortunate the RSX board was introduced last year.

'Before that I was only on the Mistral for eight months and had a lot of catching up to do against the more experienced sailors. Now it’s a level playing field.'

Just how level was evident at last summer’s national championships when Justina was third in the open women’s event behind Eason, with a point separating her from runner-up Hayley Thom.

Although Kendall didn’t compete, it was an outstanding performance by Justina, who was one of two juniors in the 10-strong field.

Having cemented her national selection with a win at Youthsail in Christchurch, she is eager to do the family name proud at the world youth champs in Weymouth.

Her quest for success comes a few months behind brother Brett, who contests the ISAF Formula 18 world catamaran champs in Austria.

For more stories by one of NZ's top sports journalists see: www.times.co.nz