2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships

Torben Grael: Brazil's sailing legend. Image copyright Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race.

Words from Torben Grael prior to the 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF Worlds in Brazil:
“I am delighted that the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship are taking place in my home country for the first time and feel sure Brazil and Armação de Búzios will give a fantastic welcome to the next generation of Olympians, World Champions, Americas Cup and Volvo Ocean Race sailors,” said the man who guided Ericsson 4 to a convincing victory in the toughest, roughest race on earth.

“My advice to these young sailors is to work hard, enjoy your sport, make the most of your potential and see where it takes you,” added the two-time Olympic gold medallist. “And if the opportunity to sail a Volvo Ocean Race campaign comes along, grab it with both hands as it is a wonderful sporting experience and a massive personal challenge.”

GRAEL returns to Brazil at the same time as his national football team which won the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, completing a wonderful weekend for the country’s sporting heroes and he hopes his compatriots can achieve a strong performance on home waters.

“I wish each and every one of the 280 young sailors great sport and every success.”

New Zealand Report

by Jodie Bakewell-White

The NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team is in Buzios, Brazil counting down the final days before competition starts in the 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships.

The official opening ceremony and a practice race are scheduled for Friday in Brazil with the first official race day on Saturday. The regatta, which brings together over 280 sailors from 59 nations, includes six days of racing with one reserve day.

Ten sailors will represent New Zealand in seven events each vying for medals in their respective classes. Their results also contribute to the overall team performance in the contest for the prestigious Volvo Trophy for the top performing nation at the championship.

In 2008 the NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team came runner up to Great Britain as the second top performing team. At that event sailed in Arhus, Denmark both Sam Meech in the Laser class and Cushla Hume-Merry in the Laser Radial class made it on to the podium returning bronze medals for New Zealand, both in very tough classes.

Four 2009 team members have ISAF Youth World’s experience already. Meech, Goodwin, Maloney and Barbarich-Bacher were all in last year’s team.

Racing starts in Buzios this Saturday and the medals as well as the Volvo Trophy will be decided and awarded after a week of racing on Saturday 18th July. Racing is held across seven events, with twelve races scheduled for each event.

Representing New Zealand

Sam Meech – Laser Radial (Boy’s One Person Dinghy)
Rachel Basevi - Laser Radial (Girl’s One Person Dinghy)
Ben Mackay – RS:X (Boy’s Windsurfer)
Lucy Driver – RS:X (Girl’s Windsurfer)
Logan Dunning-Beck & Ben Goodwin – 420 (Boy’s Two-Person Dinghy)
Alexandra Maloney & Bianca Barbarich-Bacher – 420 (Girl’s Two-Person Dinghy)
Marcus Hansen & James Turner – Hobie 16 (Open Multihull)

New Zealand's Coaches

Marty Watson
Grant Beck
Natalia Kosinska

Event - Equipment - Entries

Boy’s One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial – 54 entries
Girl’s One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial – 40 entries
Boy’s Two Person Dinghy – 420 – 34 entries (68 sailors)
Girl’s Two Person Dinghy – 420 – 25 entries (50 sailors)
Boy’s Windsurfer - RS:X with 8.5m2 sail & 60cm fin – 23 entries
Girl’s Windsurfer - RS:X with 8.5m2 sail & 60cm fin – 14 entries
Open Multihull - Hobie 16 with Spinnaker – 18 entries (36 sailors)

Schedule

Thursday 9 July - Arrival Day
Friday 10 July - Practice Race and Opening Ceremony
Saturday 11 July - First Official Race Day (2 races scheduled)
Sunday 12 July - Second Official Race Day (3 races scheduled)
Monday 13 July -Third Official Race Day (2 races scheduled)
Tuesday 14 July - Lay Day
Wednesday 15 July - Fourth Official Race Day (2 races scheduled)
Thursday 16 July - Fifth Official Race Day (2 races scheduled)
Friday 17 July - Sixth Official Race Day (1 race scheduled) and Closing Ceremony
Saturday 18 July - Departure Day

2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships