Kohimarama Yacht Club encouraging youth sailors

2nd November 2015

Sixteen young sailors of the Kohimarama Yacht Club have begun training in the 29er class high performance skiff with the aim of representing New Zealand at the Worlds in 2017.

“The two person boat with single trapeze and an asymmetric gennaker, is designed for youth sailors as a feeder class to the Olympic 49er,” said club spokesperson Des Paterson.

The eight crews made up of 4 girls and 12 boys have all committed to a two year intensive training program through the Kohimarama Yacht Club training and sailing 4 days per week.

Eight members of the group have already represented New Zealand internationally in the Optimist sailing dinghy.

“Over the past two years they were known as “Hard Kore” (Kohi Optimist Racing Excellence), and dominated the NZ Optimist ranking regatta’s, qualifying for multiple entries to the Worlds, the Europeans and the North American Optimist sailing championships.

“So it is not surprising that their goal now is to represent NZ racing the 29er at the 2017 Worlds to be held at Long Beach, California.”

Over many years Kohimarama Yacht Club has been a successful nursery club for young Auckland yachtie’s leading to world championship and Olympic titles over many classes. Notables include Olympic bronze medalist Craig Monk, and also Olympic gold medalists Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie

ENDS

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