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Some of this country's top youth sailors will be selected for the New Zealand team after October's NZL Sailing Foundation Youth Championships held at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club.
The four-day regatta will be held at Akarana from October 3-6 and the top sailors of each gender in each class will be nominated to earn selection for the NZL Sailing Foundation Youth Team.
The regatta will look to build on the success of last year's youth championships at the Manly Sailing Club that featured on Sky Sport Next as part of their initiative to put the spotlight on Olympic pathways and the rising stars across New Zealand. It is also an event different to others in this country as it aims to recreate the feel of a youth worlds in terms of rules, race formats and on-water support.
This team typically competes at the youth sailing world championships but it's still unclear whether this year's event will go ahead due to Covid-19. Last year's event, scheduled for Brazil in December, was cancelled.
A New Zealand youth team was still selected in 2020 and Yachting New Zealand plan to select another in 2021, regardless of whether the youth worlds go ahead or if there are any travel restrictions.
"There may or may not be a youth worlds but we want to give all aspiring youth sailors something to aim for over the winter, and we believe in recognising the success of those who put in the hard work to win their respective class," Yachting New Zealand youth coordinator Sam Mackay said. "We appreciate that this year is still going to be tough for those who would like to test themselves against the best in the world but there is a lot of history behind making the NZL Sailing Foundation Youth Team and there are many opportunities that become open to sailors if they make the team."
Last year's team was rewarded with a week-long training camp in Tutukaka with some of New Zealand's top Olympic sailors and coaches and that is being considered again. Yachting New Zealand will also explore different options internationally as travel starts opening up.
Further details about the NZL Sailing Foundation Youth Championships, including the notice of race and entry form, will be shared when they're available.
- Pic: Hamish McLaren and Sofia Higgott won selection in the Nacra 15 class in 2020. Photo: Yachting New Zealand.
