Queensland sailor Madison Kennedy second at Laser Radial Youth Worlds

by Craig Heydon on 5 Jul 2012 Queensland teenager Madison Kennedy has finished second in the girls fleet at the 2012 Laser Radial Youth World Championship in Queensland.

The regatta, held at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Kennedy’s home club, brought together the best Laser Radial youth sailors in the world, with more than 100 competing across the girls and boys fleets.

Kennedy finished second overall, five points behind Dutch sailor Maxime Jonker and six clear of third placed Georgina Povall of Great Britain.

The Queenslander started the day tied on points with Jonker with a 10th and a ninth in the final two races in light conditions securing her second place.

'I’m absolutely stoked with second,' said Kennedy. 'Going into today I was equal first with the Dutch sailor but she’s really good and came away with it in the end.

'Today wasn’t my best day of the regatta, that’s pressure for you, but I’m really happy with second,' she said. 'I haven’t had the best preparation due to doing year 12 at school but considering that and how much Maxime has been training I’m stoked with the result.'

The sailors were faced with typical Queensland winter conditions all week, with mild temperate and light winds testing all of the crews.

'The conditions we tricky as today,' said Kennedy. 'The breeze dropped right out and was the trickiest day we’ve had all week.'

Kennedy finished in the top 10 in six of the seven races on her way to second overall, including two wins and a second.

Milly Bennett was the next best placed Australian girl in fifth overall, one place ahead of fellow Aussie Anna Philip. Philip was also first in the under 17 category.

Louise Evans, who will represent Australia at the 2012 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship later this month in Ireland, was just outside the top 10 in 11th overall, and second under 17 girl, ahead of Natasha van Rennes in 12th.

In the boys fleet West Australian sailors Ben Walkemeyer and Mark Spearman were the leading Australians in seventh and ninth respectively.

Walkemeyer finished with a second and three fourths from the seven races while Spearman’s best results were a win and a third.

Spearman will also now head to Ireland alongside Louise Evans as a part of the Australian Youth Sailing Team.

Fellow Australian Daniel Smith was one place behind Spearman in 10th. Nicholas Connor was sixth in the under 17 boys category.

Full results can be found at www.rqys.com.au/index.php/2012-world-laser-radial-youth-championship/.