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It's been a season of firsts for Sam Street.
In December, the versatile young New Plymouth sailor made history with back-to-back titles at the Waszp World Games in Sorrento, Australia, before taking out the Hartley 16 national title in Waiuku in February.
To top it off, Street was last week crowned the 2024 Male Sailor of the Year at the 7th annual Foiling Awards in Italy - becoming only the second Kiwi to win the top gong and the first since Peter Burling in 2018.
Reflecting on his win, Street said, "This was my second nomination for the award, with the nominees selected based on their performances in foiling classes over the past year. It’s a huge honour to receive this award, especially considering the calibre of previous winners whom I admire, such as Peter Burling and Tom Slingsby."
Street's outstanding performance at the Waszp Games, where he outshone a fleet of over 90 boats, secured him the award, surpassing competitors like Singapore's kitefoil superstar Max Maeder and iQFOIL world champion Luuc van Opzeeland of the Netherlands.
Fellow Kiwi Tim Howse finished fourth at the Games, and second among youth sailors.
Sam Street won his second Waszp Games crown in December. Photos / International Waszp Games
"It’s a pretty unique feeling to be able to defend a world title, and being the first to win two in the class is also very special," Street says.
The change of pace - and size of the boat - to the Hartley 16 was carefully planned.
"It is one of my favourite boats to race. At previous nationals, we've had up to 30 boats and it is some of the most competitive racing I have been a part of. To finally tick that one off [win the nationals] after a couple of tries was really cool, especially doing it alongside my mates Alex Mitchell-Barker and Marcus van Dam, who subbed in on the second day."
The 23-year-old recently switched his focus from the Waszp to the Moth - he placed third behind Jake Pye and Mattias Coutts at the Moth nationals - and is looking forward to the 2024 International Moth world championships at Manly Sailing Club in December.
"I’m not finished with the Waszp, as the racing in the class is the best one-design foiling racing there is. But the Moth presents a new challenge with much more technical input required being an open class," he says.
"It is also such a golden opportunity with the worlds being hosted in Manly."
Sam Street (left) with Jake Pye and Mattias Coutts at the Moth nationals. Photo / Manly Sailing Club
In the meantime, Street will be coaching Howse and a few other international Waszp sailors, before eyeing yet another first...
"I plan to ship my Moth over to Europe to race and train in lead up to the Moth worlds but I will also compete on an International 6 Metre in Palma and later on at the 6 Metre European championships in Sanxenxo, Spain."
