Butler & Boniface nab final ISAF Youth Worlds spot

by Karenza Morton on 6 May 2009 Adam Butler and Nikki Boniface will fill the final British berth for this summer’s Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships following their performance at Eurocat – the RYA’s nominated selection trials event for the catamaran class - in Carnac over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Christchurch’s Butler, 17, the 2008 SL16 RYA Youth National champion, and his Polegate-based crew Nikki Boniface, who turns 16 later this month, got the nod for the Hobie 16 slot for the ISAF Youth Worlds in Buzios, Brazil from 9-18 July on account of finishing ahead of rivals Sam Rowles and Gilly Sutcliffe in France.

With a place in RYA Volvo Team GBR for the prestigious Youth Worlds at stake, neither team was prepared to give an inch as racing proved to be extremely close, with both British boats finishing within two places of one another more than once in the seven-race series.

However, although it was Rowles and Gilbert who had the upper hand going into the final race, a fifth place for Butler / Boniface and a 19th for Rowles / Gilbert ensured that Butler and Boniface leapfrogged their challengers to secure a three-point advantage in the final standings and secure Buzios selection.

Duncan Truswell, RYA Youth Racing Manager, said: 'In the end it was so close and enormous credit must go to both crews who really did go all out to try to win selection for the ISAF Youth Worlds.

'With Eurocat being nominated as the primary selection event for the Cats we stated from the outset that we would be looking to select the team that finished highest-placed in Carnac so we congratulate Adam and Nikki and wish them all the best for Brazil but commend Sam and Gilly for making the decision as difficult as possible.'

Once again RYA Volvo Team GBR will be supported by Musto in Brazil while all selections are subject to the 10 selected sailors, across the seven competing classes, meeting an agreed performance programme.

RYA Volvo Team GBR squad for 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships, Buzios, Brazil (9-18 July):

420:
Boys: Philip Sparks / Ben Gratton
Girls: Rebecca Kalderon / Rosie Sibthorp

RS:X:
Boys: Ali Masters
Girls: Izzy Hamilton

Laser Radial:
Boys: Oscar McVeigh
Girls: Hannah Tilley

Hobie 16:
Adam Butler / Nikki Boniface