Kiwi Youngsters Aim For Youth Worlds

The cream of New Zealand’s youth sailing talent was at Algies Bay over Anzac weekend for the annual YouthSail Regatta hosted this year by Sandspit Yacht Club.

YouthSail08 was the final selection regatta to be taken into consideration for the naming of this year’s NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team to represent New Zealand at the prestigious Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship this July. This team will be announced shortly.

With such high stakes the entry list featured some top talent and the competition on the water was tough. Algies Bay provided a range of conditions, with fresh winds on the first and last days of the regatta, and light variable winds on the second and third days. 

Cushla HUME-MERRY of Wellington in the Laser Radial class and RS:X board sailors Josh NIXON and Jazmine LYNCH from Takapuna led their classes throughout the event. The Boys 420 class was won by Paul SNOW-HANSEN (Wakatere) and Ben GOODWIN (Napier) with a comfortable margin from Francisco LARDIES (Glendowie) and David HAZARD (Sandspit).

Competition was fierce in the Laser and Girls 420 classes with the winner not revealed right up until the last race. Sam MEECH of Tauranga eventually held onto a one-point lead in the Laser over Andy MALONEY of Murrays Bay. In the Girls 420 Emma BERRY and Sarah BERRY staged a late comeback, but were unable to overtake Alexandra MALONEY and Bianca BARBARICH-BACHER of Murrays Bay.

Results – click here