The 2022 Youth Sail VIC finished with a flurry on Port Phillip this week, as Australia’s finest young sailing talent battling it out and places on the Australian Sailing Youth Team (ASYT).
Competitors were treated to a range of conditions across the four days of racing, but for many it was a time to celebrate after two years of border restrictions had played havoc with the national youth sailing schedule.
As a result, the event doubled up as the selection event for the ASYT, with those athletes going on to compete at this year’s Youth Sailing World Championships in The Hague, The Netherlands.
Hosted by Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, the event attracted over 180 youth sailors from across the country. The Laser Radial (29 entries) and 29er (36 entries) classes attracted the largest number of sailors from the regatta.
“It was great to see this group of youth sailors competing in Melbourne over the last few days. At this stage of development, it is very important that sailors enjoy the experience that competition and the surrounding environment offers,” said Australian Sailing National Performance Pathways Manager Ken Lynch.
Close racing and tough conditions over the duration of the competition certainly brought out some of the attributes we will look from these young people in the future.”
Many eyes were on the healthy cohort competing in the Windfoiling class, with the iQFOiL set to make its debut as the equipment for the Windsurfer class both at the WS Youth Worlds and Paris 2024 Olympics.
Fremantle Sailing Club athlete Harry Joyner swept the Boys class with straight bullets, with Charlotte Wormald from Victoria winning the Girls which saw both sailors nominated for the ASYT.
Australia has a rich history of success in the Skiff classes at the Olympic Games, so it was no surprise that the pathway 29er class was one of the most competitive at the event. After four days of tight racing just one point separated Daniel Links and Markus Sampson (Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club) and Tyler Dransfield and Jamie Stodart (Middle Harbour Yacht Club) in the Boys with Sienna Brown and Darcy Robbins (Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club) taking out the Girls.
One of the most exciting finishes at the event came in the Laser Radial, where Mornington Yacht Club training partners Jack Eickmeyer and Lachie Weber waited until the last race to decide the winner. It was Eickmeyer who made a pass at the very last mark rounding to take the overall win from Weber.
Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron teams dominated the Nacra 15 class, with athletes from the Brisbane-based club sweeping the podium.
“The sailing conditions built from the south and we were lucky we did not have any breakages compared to other teams on the last day of the regatta,” said Isabella Wilson who along with teammate Kris Bilston finished in 2nd place overall at the regatta.
Full results from the regatta can be found here.
National Youth Camp
The regatta also acted as the selection event for the National Youth Camp, with 40 sailors invited to attend the camp immediately after the regatta.
The four-day camp enabled the best youth sailors from around the country to develop their skills with some of our best coaches. The focus of the camp was to learn and develop as a group, sharing their knowledge and experiences to support one another as they progress in the sport.
The camp included class-specific sessions, information sessions from athletes and experts, goal setting and the patience required in managing moving from youth level sailing to more senior levels of competition. Team building also featured at the camp, helping athletes to understand the value of sharing learning and working with others to support the team getting better.
The athletes invited to attend the camp included:
29er
Eva Attwood - RPAYC (NSW)
Sienna Brown - RPAYC (NSW)
Tyler Dransfield - MHYC (NSW)
Jenna Everett - SoPYC (WA)
Isabella Holdsworth - RPAYC (NSW)
Daniel Links - RPAYC (NSW)
Ellis Merrett - RPAYC (NSW)
Angus Renton - RPAYC (NSW)
Darcy Robbins - RPAYC (NSW)
Markus Sampson - RPAYC (NSW)
Jamie Stodart - MHYC (NSW)
420
Carter Baker - BSYC / LBSC (SA)
Austin Cross - WSC (NSW)
Isaac Freeman - WSC (NSW)
Ben Hinks - BSYC / LBSC (SA)
Fallon Katz - BSYC (SA)
Xanthe Kibble - WSC (NSW)
Benedict Mckay - WSC/RSYS (NSW)
Spencer McKay - WSC/RSYS (NSW)
Grace Morrow - WSC (NSW)
Ellen Sampson - BSYC (SA)
Hanako Tomishima - WSC (NSW)
Kitefoil
Jake Timm - NYRC (QLD)
Oscar Timm - NYRC (QLD)
Laser Radial
Frances Beebe - RQYS (QLD)
Jack Eickmeyer - MYC (VIC)
Harry Joyner - FSC (WA)
Lili McAullay - RPYC (WA)
Anneke Meyer - RQYS (QLD)
Evie Saunders - MYC (NSW)
Isaac Schotte - RQYS (QLD)
Lachie Weber - MYC (VIC)
Nacra 15
Gian Bilston - RQYS (QLD)
Kristian Bilston - RQYS (QLD)
Hana-Lena Jenkin - RQYS (QLD)
Alex Jones - RQYS (QLD)
Will Nobes - RQYS (QLD)
Isabella Wilson - RQYS (QLD)
WIndfoil
Philip Crispey - RBYC (VIC)
Jarrod Jones - RQYS (QLD)
Kai Marns-Morris - RPYC (WA)
Mitchell Pearson - RQYS (QLD)
Charlotte Wormald - RBYC/SYC (VIC)
The provisional ASYT was announced at the conclusion of the 2022 Youth Sail VIC regatta. The team, which requires ratification from the Australian Sailing Board before being finalised, will represent Australia at the Allianz 2022 Youth Sail World Championships 8 – 15 July 2022 The Hague, Netherlands. The team will be led by Matt Jerwood (Team Leader), who will be supported by Tristan Brown and Hayley Clark.
The athletes provisionally selected to the team include:
Laser Radial Boy – Jack Eickmeyer - MYC (VIC)
Laser Radial Girl – Evie Saunders - MSC (NSW)
Windfoiling Boy – Harry Joyner - FSC (WA)
Windfoiling Girl – Charlotte Wormald - SYC & RBYC (VIC)
Nacra 15 – Isabella Wilson & Kris Bilston - RQYS (QLD)
29er Boys – Daniel Links and Markus Sampson - RPAYC (NSW)
29er Girls – Sienna Brown and Darcy Robbins - RPAYC (NSW)
Sailors in the 420 boys, 420 girls and Formula Kite foiling boys have been ratified by the Australian Sailing Board back in February with their selection events held in January are
420 Boys - Ben Hinks and Carter Baker - BSYC (SA)
420 Girls - Ellen Sampson and Fallon Catz - BSYC (SA)
Kiteboarding - Oscar Timm - NY&RC (QLD)
