With less than a month to go before the Youth World Sailing Championships, many of the team are readying themselves for what will be the biggest regatta of their sailing careers to date. 

Selected for performances across class and youth championships last summer, the team has been in training and are now ready to tackle the best the world has to offer.

The Youth Worlds take place in Gdynia, Poland from 13-20 July 2019, with a large contingency of Aussies contesting the events.

The Australian team consists of:

RS:X (Boys) Hamish Swain

RS:X (Girls) Amelia Quinlan

29er (Boys) Max Paul and Archie Cropley

29er (Girls) Alice Buchanan and Dervla Duggan

420 (Boys) Ryan Littlechild and Jack Ferguson

420 (Girls) Lily and Matilda Richardson

Laser Radial (Boys) Zac Littlewood

Laser Radial (Girls) Maddie O’Shea

Nacra 15 (Mixed team) Will Cooley and Bec Hancock

Team Leader and Laser/Nacra Coach

Matt Jerwood

420 Coach

Carrie Smith

29er Coach

Harry Morton

Girls 29er co-member, Dervla Duggan, said one of the main differences between racing in her home state of Tasmania and Poland is instead of racing in a fleet of 6-10 boats she will be competing against 20-25 other boats – the majority of whom they have never sailed against before.

“In Tasmania, the 29er fleet is small in number but is recognised Australia wide as a high performing fleet… the sailors know each other and sail regularly together,” she said.

“The sailing locally is very competitive as we all have insights into each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

“I think the racing in Poland will be more intense as it will be a bigger fleet and more challenging as we will be sailing in an unknown location.”

Sailing partner Alice Buchanan said the racing is going to be challenging, especially when competing against the best sailors in the world – however the challenge will be to learn and grow for future sailing endeavors.

“I am looking forward to getting to know the Australian team whilst also meeting other sailors from different countries that could become lifetime friends,” she said.

“Although we will mainly be in the boat park it will be nice to experience the polish culture.”

Amelia Quinlan, sailing an RS:X, said the Youth Worlds is such an amazing experience and there are so many reasons that contribute to the enjoyment. She said the main things she is looking forward to are the challenges of racing and meeting so many people from around the world that all share the same interest. However which conditions they will be met with is still a mystery.

“In terms of wind and weather conditions, I have heard various contrasting forecasts, so I’m not sure what conditions we will be faced with,” she said.

“I am sure the racing will be tough, but I am going into it with a lot more confidence, in all wind strengths and with the Corpus Christi Youth Worlds under my belt.”

Rebecca Hancock said her expectations are based more towards the experience than results, adding she hopes to perform to the best of her abilities as well as enjoy the racing and overall atmosphere.

“I am trying to de-stress the situation and thus allow myself to perform well rather than let my anxiety prevent me from enjoying the experience,” she said.

“Any racing and sailing is the best feeling in the world, but I am especially looking forward to some tight racing and representing my country.

“In preparation for the Youth World Championships our coaches have briefed us on the conditions and probable atmosphere of Poland, I am expecting some unpredictable weather and highly varied conditions and super cold water! The racing is probably going to be highly competitive with some very close results.”

Follow the results of the team at the event website.