ISAF APP funds Young Sailors for Youth Worlds

by ISAF on 8 May 2008 More young sailors than ever before will get the benefit of funding support from ISAF's Athlete Participation Programme as they make their first steps onto the world sailing stage at this year's Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.

A record 32 competitors from 18 nations have been approved for funding support from the Athlete Participation Programme (APP) to attend the 38th edition of the Youth Worlds, which will take place in Århus, Denmark from 10-19 July. Sailors from Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America will all benefit from the APP this year, an ISAF initiative to expand the global reach of key events by assisting with entry and travel costs for athletes from those countries who may not otherwise be able to participate at the championship, and also provide them top-level coaching once on site.

Luissa Smith, Head of the ISAF Training and Development Department, said the record numbers were a clear indication of the success of the APP. '2008 represents a milestone in the number of nations and sailors participating through the ISAF Athlete Participation Programme. The increase in nations and sailors also reflects the increasing prominence the APP plays in supporting athletes' participation. Additionally, this year the APP had benefited from a 25% budget increase made possible through fundraising and the sale of 'ISAF Cookbooks' during the 2007 ISAF Annual Conference. ISAF is very pleased to welcome Serbia at the World Championship, as the nation makes its debut appearance with the support of the APP,' Smith said.

Of the 60 nations set to compete at the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, Serbia will be the only one making its debut at the Youth Worlds. Cuba, Ecuador and Paraguay, all of whom have sailors supported by the APP, make only their second ever appearance. The 32 sailors who will attend this year's Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship represent a new generation of young talent from around the world. Of the 32 competitors, only Jeremy Lopez Becker from Argentina and Anna Aile of Latvia have competed at the Youth Worlds before (in 2007 and 2006 respectively).

As well as getting the opportunity to fly the flag for their nation at the world's leading youth sailing event, this year's APP sailors will also be the last to benefit from the now legendary post-race briefings of Jim Saltonstall, who - after a combined total of 30 years at the Youth Worlds - will retire from his role as World Youth Sailing Trust coach after the 2008 event.

It's not just the sailors at the championship who reap the rewards of the APP. Latvian Yachting Union President Armands Plate explains the benefits the programme offers from the national perspective. 'Participation in the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship will provide Anna an opportunity to gain valuable experience that can be shared among sailors in Latvia. We're also looking forward to taking part in on-site coaching as this will not only benefit our sailor but will also give insight into the coaching methods and techniques that could then be applied by our local coaches,' he said.

Many world famous sailors first make a name for themselves at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship and last year the APP proved its can also unearth potential champions. Pavlos Kontides of Cyprus first competed in the Youth Worlds in 2005 thanks to funding support from the APP. Two years later he won his nation's first ever medal at the event when he was crowned 2007 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Champion in the Laser event in Kingston, Canada. Things haven't stopped there either, Kontides has qualified Cyprus for the Men's One Person Dinghy event at the Olympic Games and recently beat many of the big names of the Laser class to finish 12th at the ISAF Grade 1 Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères.

These high profile success stories provide a huge incentive for young sailors to compete at the championship. Mexico will be represented at the third consecutive Youth Worlds by APP sailor Jeronimo Cervantes Belausteguigoitia in the Laser event and for Federacion Mexicana de Vela President Ralph Nelles, his attendances is fantastic encouragement other young sailors in the country. 'Jeronimo's participation at the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship serves as an example of the horizons that are open to young dedicated sailors, particularly those that, like him, are a product of participation in the Mexican Optimist Class Association,' said Nelles.

Along with Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Latvia, Mexico, Paraguay and Serbia other nations to benefit from APP funding this year are Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Colombia, India, Lithuania, Netherlands Antilles, Seychelles, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay and the US Virgin Islands.

Find out more on the ISAF Athlete Participation Programme and the 2008 APP sailors at www.sailing.org/app


2008 ISAF Athlete Participation Programme Sailors

Argentina

Jeremy Lopez Becker (ARG), Boy's Windsurfer - Neil Pryde RS:X
Jazmin Lopez Becker (ARG), Girl's Windsurfer - Neil Pryde RS:X

Bermuda

Libby Brewin (BER), Girl's Two Person Dinghy - 29er
Haley Powel (BER), Girl's Two Person Dinghy - 29er
William Hutchings (BER), Boy's One Person Dinghy - Laser

British Virgin Islands

Alec Anderson (IVB), Boy's One Person Dinghy - Laser

Colombia

Nicolas Lozano (COL), Boy's Windsurfer - Neil Pryde RS:X

Cuba

Rogelio Rivero Bayoll (CUB), Boy's Windsurfer - Neil Pryde RS:X
Jaimet Ruano Vazquez (CUB), Girl's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
Jose Miguel Betancourt Kokoreva (CUB), Boy's One Person Dinghy - Laser

Ecuador

Angelo Renato Teran Ratti (ECU), Boy's One Person Dinghy - Laser

India

Mrinalini Santhanam (IND), Girl's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial

Latvia

Anna Aile (LAT), Girl's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial

Lithuania

Plerpaite Saima (LTU), Girl's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
Krumpalcas Mantas (LTU), Boy's One Person Dinghy - Laser
Juodeska Martynas (LTU), Boy's Windsurfer - Neil Pryde RS:X

Mexico

Jeronimo Cervantes Belausteguigoitia (MEX), Boy's One Person Dinghy - Laser

Netherlands Antilles

Philipine Van Aanholt (AHO), Girl's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
Vincent Pietersz (AHO), Boy's One Person Dinghy - Laser

Paraguay

Ivana Daniella Cabello Charbonnier (PAR), Girl's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
Guillermo Gabriel Gomez Osuna (PAR), Boy's One Person Dinghy - Laser

Serbia

Maja Knezevic (SRB), Girl's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial

Seychelles

Meggy Gertrude (SEY), Girl's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial

South Africa

Claire Walker (RSA), Girl's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
Garret Kruger (RSA), Open Multihull - Sirena SL16
Margot Kruger (RSA), Open Multihull - Sirena SL16

Trinidad & Tobago

Aaron Barcant (TRI), Boy's One Person Dinghy - Laser

Uruguay

Rafael Lorieto (URU), Boy's One Person Dinghy - Laser
Nicolas Prego (URU), Boy's Windsurfer - Neil Pryde RS:X
Alejo Morales (URU), Boy's Two Person Dinghy - 29er
Manfredo Finck (URU), Boy's Two Person Dinghy - 29er

US Virgin Islands

Matsmi Roller (ISV), Girl's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial