2009 ISAF Youth Worlds Reports

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REPORTS FROM 2009 ISAF YOUTH WORLDS

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youth worlds

Phil Sparks / Ben Gratton going for gold in Buzios at the 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships

Photo credit: Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race

Report 1 by Phil Sparks, Harken Sponsored 420 Sailor
Wednesday 22nd July

Having been selected for the youth worlds at Easter all our training was geared towards this event.

Before we went to the Youth Worlds we didn’t know what to expect. We didn’t know the standard of the fleet or the quality of the provided equipment. On the practice race we had fantastic conditions with 15 knots and big swell, we were able to get an idea of the standard of the fleet in these conditions.

The first day of racing had similar conditions allowing us to get off to a good start winning the first race. The second day was abandoned due to too much wind and the third day of racing was held in a light and shifty offshore breeze. On this day the racing was extremely close. In the first race we finished second and in the second we got involved in an incident at the leeward mark which resulted in a protest where we got disqualified. There was only one discard for the entire series so every result after this was a counter.

After our disqualification we didn’t race for two days because of the lay day and a day of no wind. We then had a day with glorious conditions and 3 races where we got a 1, 1 and 2. On the final day there was only one race and we were very conscious of our disqualification but also aware that we were well suited to the conditions. After a conservative start we finished first in that racing, winning the championship.

We are very happy about our performance at the Youth Worlds and I would like to thank Harken for their continuous support and my crew, Ben Gratton.

Report 2 by Karenza Morton, RYA
Friday 17th July

RYA Volvo Team GBR is guaranteed at least one medal as the 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships head into the final day in Brazil today.

With one race scheduled to run today, Izzy Hamilton (Bude, Cornwall) cannot miss out on either a silver or bronze medal in the RS:X girls windsurfing class following a hugely impressive return of 2, 2, 1 from the three races in bright and breezy conditions in Buzios yesterday (Thursday).

Even if the worst case scenario unfolded today, the biggest score Hamilton would carry in her final series would be a sixth and as there is currently a nine-point gap between her in second and fourth-placed sailor Agnieszka Bilska (POL), the 16-year-old will definitely land a medal. Hei Man Chan (HKG) wrapped up the gold yesterday.

Meanwhile, Phil Sparks (Christchurch, Dorset) and Ben Gratton (Guildford, Surrey) could land 420 boys’ gold if they keep their noses clean and post a decent score from their final race.

The pair currently top the pile with a 13-point cushion over Bernard Gabriel Skoczek / Thibaut Soler (FRA) in second.

But as they are carrying a disqualification from race four, Sparks / Gratton cannot afford to slip up with another big score today, which could see them tumble down the leaderboard. Yesterday the British duo posted a comprehensive 1, 1, 2 series.

Three more Brits also occupy top 10 positions with Adam Butler (Christchurch, Dorset) / Nikki Boniface (Polegate, East Sussex) in sixth overall while Rebecca Kalderon (Wimbledon) / Rosie Sibthorp (Thames Ditton, Surrey) lost their grip on a medal with three scores of 14 yesterday, which saw them drop from second to eighth.

Also laying eighth is Ali Masters (Clevedon, Somerset) in the boys’ RS:X, Masters struggling in the breezier conditions in Buzios yesterday.

The youngest member of RYA Volvo Team GBR at 15, Hannah Tilley moved up to 21st in the girls’ Laser Radial fleet having enjoyed her most successful day of the regatta posting three top 20 scores while Oscar McVeigh in the boys’ event also notched his best race score of the event picking up a 15th. McVeigh is 35th overall.

The RYA Volvo Team GBR sailors will also all be looking for good performances across the board to guarantee them second place in the race for the Volvo Trophy, for the best performing nation. France cannot be overtaken in the race for the Trophy but Britain currently lies second with a 16-point advantage over third-placed Italy.

To learn more about all the RYA Volvo Team GBR sailors competing in Buzios visit the new RYA website at http://www.rya.org.uk/racing/youthjunior/youth/Pages/2009ISAFYouthWorlds.aspx

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