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New Zealand's top youth sailors have shown the ability to learn fast and adapt when competing on home waters – qualities that will serve them well when they take on the best in the world in just under three months.
That's the message from Yachting New Zealand's youth and events manager Sam Mackay to the team of 13 selected to represent the country at the 2024 youth sailing world championships in July.
The NZL Sailing Foundation youth team was named on Thursday for the event at Lake Garda, Italy, a week after the conclusion of the NZ youth championships at Murrays Bay Sailing Club which doubled as a selection trial for the youth worlds.
While five of the selected sailors also competed at last year's youth world championships in Buzios, two have changed classes and two others are now sailing in a new combination.
The 2024 NZL Sailing Foundation youth team is (from left to right): Sofia Currie, Hugo Wigglesworth, Jack Parr, Jess Handley, Zach Stibbe, Alex Norman, Chloe Turner, Cam Brown, Tessa Clinton, Bella Jenkins, Nicola Hume, Will Leech and Sean Kensington.
Nicola Hume, who competed with Tessa Clinton in the girls' 420 in Brazil in December, has switched to the 29er and will be sailing with Bella Jenkins in Italy, while Sean Kensington is now crewing for Will Leech only five months after helming for brother Rowan.
Clinton will again be in the girls' dinghy, but this time with Jess Handley. The pair have impressed since teaming up only a month ago and were the overall leaders in the 420 fleet after day one at Murrays Bay. The event was won by Cam Brown and Alex Norman, who also beat defending champions Joe Leith and Josh Ferrissey.
Chloe Turner finished first in the girls' ILCA 6 last week after placing 18th with Lucy Leith in the 29er at the 2023 youth worlds, while Zach Stibbe secured the spot in the boys' ILCA 6 following a dramatic four-day battle with Winston Liesebach and Miro Luxford.
Stibbe will compete at his first youth worlds, as will girls' windfoiler Sofia Currie.
Jack Parr (boys' windfoil), who had to withdraw from last year's NZL Sailing Foundation youth team due to injury, has also been included.
Kitefoiler Hugo Wigglesworth will be sailing at his third youth worlds, and is the most experienced of the young Kiwis.
"Congratulations to all the sailors selected for the youth worlds. It will be a very special event at one of the best sailing venues in the world," Mackay said.
"We were impressed with the level of competition in all the fleets during the youth trials as well as the sailors' ability to learn quickly and improve as the regatta went on. That will be absolutely critical to success at the world champs."
Mackay was confident that the squad could improve on the results of last year, where Leith and Ferrissey's fifth place was the best return.
The pair followed it up a fortnight later by winning bronze at the 420 open world championships in Rio de Janeiro.
"It's a relatively inexperienced squad when you consider the change in classes and combinations but some of the sailors have demonstrated their ability to perform at international level over the last few months," Mackay said.
"The fact that Joe and Josh were beaten at the youth trials is an indication of the strength of that class, in particular."
The NZL Sailing Foundation youth team will continue preparing for the youth worlds with a coaching clinic early next month, alongside ongoing squad-based class coaching sessions.
Mackay is one of the team's confirmed coaches, with Yachting New Zealand talent development manager Geoff Woolley, and world championship bronze medallist George Gautrey.
Additional coaches will be confirmed in due course, Mackay said.
2024 NZL Sailing Foundation youth team:
Girls' ILCA 6: Chloe Turner
Boys' ILCA 6: Zach Stibbe
Girls' 29er: Bella Jenkins and Nicola Hume
Boys' 29er: Will Leech and Sean Kensington
Boys' 420: Cam Brown and Alex Norman
Girls' 420: Tessa Clinton and Jess Handley
Girls' windfoil: Sofia Currie
Boys' windfoil: Jack Parr
Boys' kitefoil: Hugo Wigglesworth
