Issue date
18 year old windsurfer, Xanthe Bowater is one of two Cantabrians to represent New Zealand in the 2014 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team.
She was selected after winning the girl’s youth division at both 2014 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland and the 2014 RS:X National Championships.
“Xanthe is the first female windsurfer to be selected into the NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team since 2011 and it’s a credit to the hard work that she and her fellow youth windsurfers have put in over the past year,” says Ian Neely, Talent Development Manager.
Q&A with Xanthe Bowater:
Q: How did you get into sailing?
A: My Great-grandfather was a ship’s captain and so my father sailed from a young age and naturally, I was brought up in and around boats.
Q: Favourite thing to eat after a long day on the water?
A: Cous cous and Lamb salad
Q: Favourite place to sail?
A: Lyttelton
Q: Which New Zealand sailors do you admire most?
A: Sir Peter Blake and Dean Barker
Q: What is the best thing about sailing your youth class?
A: The speed and thrill
Q: How will you prepare for the Youth Worlds and which regattas will you be attending in the lead-up?
A: I will be training both in the gym and on the water every day that I can manage (around working) but unfortunately I can’t attend any international lead up events
Q: What was the most proud moment of your sailing to date, and tell us how you felt?
A: Standing on the top of the podium at the Techno+ Worlds, I felt proud of how hard I had worked to achieved this.
