Sail First ISAF Youth World Championships at Limassol, Cyprus - Day 3

Kiwi multi crew extend lead further

The Sail First ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships on now in Limassol, Cyprus has passed the mid way mark and all five of the 2013 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team remain in the top six places in their fleets.

The best placed include Isaac McHardie (Hamilton Yacht Club/RAYC) and Micah Wilkinson (Ngaroto Sailing Club/RAYC) who continue to dominate in the SL16 multihull, while Markus Somerville and Jack Simpson (Wakatere Boating Club) had a great day on the water climbing to 3rd overall in the 29er skiff.

The multi fleet sailed three races, Isaac and Micah taking two race wins and a 7th on day three. Their lead has extended to fourteen points over closest rivals the Australian representatives, and the kiwis are now in a very strong position going into the penultimate day of the five day long regatta.

"We're pretty happy with how everything's going, it's been awesome," said the pair immediately after racing. "We were looking for top three finishes and we're stoked with our results at the moment. We're normally 29er sailors but after a couple of months in the cat we're pretty happy with how things are going."

Ahead of the Sail First ISAF Youth Worlds the pair took in the SL16 Worlds to fine tune their preparations and finished sixth, "We've been sailing cats since February," said Wilkinson, "We learned heaps in France which was awesome and brought that into here and we are getting some good results."

In the 29er Markus Somerville and Jack Simpson (Wakatere Boating Club) have moved up the ladder from 5th to 3rd overall after a 3, 3, 4 on the water today putting them within two points of the Argentineans in 2nd place.

Laser Radial sailor Andrew McKenzie has had his best day of the regatta yet and further improves his standing in the 56 boat fleet up to 5th position at the end of day three.

Andrew reports; "It was good to have a day where I got some consistent results on the board."

In the 420 Sam Barnett and Zak Merton (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club) are in 5th place in the boy's fleet while Olivia Mackay and Abby Goodwin (Napier Sailing Club) hold 6th place in the girl's.

The overall performance of the 2013 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team currently places them 3rd in the standings for the Nations Trophy behind Spain and Italy.

Coach Jim Maloney is enjoying the venue and report, "The sailing has been pretty good and has made for some great viewing from the coach boats. The Cyprus coffee is awesome, anyone who knows me knows I like my coffee and after 16 hour days, what more can I say."

Racing resumes tomorrow for the penultimate day of the regatta.

NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team Standings: (after day three)

1st Isaac McHardie (Hamilton YC/RAYC) and Micah Wilkinson (Ngaroto SC/RAYC) – SL16 Multihull
5th Andrew McKenzie (Kohimarama Yacht Club) – Laser Radial
5th Sam Barnett and Zak Merton (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club) – Boy's 420
6th Olivia Mackay and Abby Goodwin (Napier Sailing Club) – Girl's 420
3rd Markus Somerville and Jack Simpson (Wakatere Boating Club) – 29er

Nations Trophy current standings:

1st Spain
2nd Italy
3rd New Zealand

Each course has its own Twitter account. @ISAFyw13_Alpha will be following the Laser Radials and 29er, @ISAFyw13_Bravo will be focusing on the RS:X windsurfers and @ISAFyw13_Charli will keep an eye on the 420s and SL16 fleets.