Consistency counts on day three of Aon Youth Sailing Champs

Consistency counts on day three of Aon Youth Sailing World Championship

Sisters Kate and Greta Stewart have edged up the overall scoreboard in the 29er girl’s class during the third day of the Aon Youth Sailing World Championship following some consistent results in today’s racing off Torbay in Auckland.

Now sitting in 2nd, the New Zealand girl’s team improved throughout three races sailed today with their string of results reading 5,3,2 in the 24-strong fleet.

“It’s definitely a nicer place to be going into the next few days, and being consistent in the top five out there was good,” says crew Kate.

Although the girls are happy with their performance they both agree it's important to stay focused on the two remaining days of competition.

“The points are so close so it’s still anyone’s game. We shouldn’t take anything for granted at the moment – it’s just about keeping our races clean and sailing well,” comments Greta.

Stunning sailing conditions with 11 to 13 knots from the North/North-West on the Hauraki Gulf meant races across all four courses were held as scheduled, despite early concerns about a lack of breeze.

Principal Race Officer Harold Bennett says he’s happy with how the regatta is tracking.

“Today has been really good. We’ve passed the halfway mark of the regatta and as a PRO I’m pretty pleased that we’re still on schedule. You’ve got to be happy with the conditions we’ve had, including today’s breeze which only tapered off towards the end of the racing,” he explains.

There was a mixed bag of results across the board for NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team members.

Onshore coach Tom Saunders says a steadier, less shifty breeze meant passing lanes were difficult to find across the courses. “If you were on the back foot it’s challenging to get back from there,” he says.

The 13 sailors competing across eight events are all placed within the top 18 of their respective fleets, as two days of competition are yet to unfold.

NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team results following the third day of the Aon Youth Sailing World Championship:

420 Boys

15th Josh Berry and Henry Haslett: 13,13,14,6,(16),14

420 Girls

10th Courtney Reynolds-Smith and Brianna Reynolds-Smith: 6,4,(16),12,3,13

29er Boys

8th Francesco Kayrouz and Oscar Gunn: 11,11,11,1,4,8,(13),12,2

29er Girls

2nd Greta Stewart and Kate Stewart: (13),4,7,7,6,4,5,3,2

Nacra 15

6th Jackson Keon and Tom Fyfe: 3, (21 DSQ), 2,10,7,10,6,11,13

Laser Radial Boys

3rd George Gautrey: 5,2,5 DPI1,8 DPI1,13, (26)

Laser Radial Girls

18th Olivia Christie: 7,18,30,7, (48 UFD),17

RS:X Boys:

10th Patrick Haybittle: 4,6,10,11,8,7, (28 UFD), 18,11

As racing progresses over the next two days’ results can be viewed here;

http://www.isafyouthworlds.com/results/index.php

ABOUT THE YOUTH WORLDS

The Youth Worlds was first held in Sweden in 1971. The 2016 Youth Sailing World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand will be the 46th edition of the championship. More than 380 sailors from 66 nations sailing in more than 260 boats across nine disciplines will compete in New Zealand.

Past notable winners include American's Cup skippers, Chris Dickson (NZL), Russell Coutts (NZL), Dean Barker (NZL); Olympic medalists, Nathan Outteridge (AUS), Iain Jensen (AUS), Robert Scheidt (BRA), Amelie Lux (GER), Ben Ainslie (GBR), Iain Percy (GBR), Alessandra Sensini (ITA), Elise Rechichi (AUS), Dan Slater (NZL) and Tessa Parkinson (AUS); Volvo Ocean Race sailors like Stuart Bannatyne (NZL) and Richard Clarke (CAN). The most successful Youth World Champions are Great Britain's Sally Cuthbert and Poland's Zofia Klepacka having won four successive titles in the Laser II and Mistral respectively.

Australia is the current holder of the Nations Trophy, awarded annually to the top performing nation at the Youth Worlds. France is the most success nation through the history of the Championship, winning the Nations Trophy on a record eleven occasions and holding a record 76 medals: 28 gold, 30 silver and 18 bronze.

ends

© Scoop Media