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Growth in youth sailing has been reflected in a large number of entries for the upcoming Yachting New Zealand Youth Trials are held at the Manly Sailing Club.
Sisters Kate and Greta Stewart won bronze at last year's 2016 Aon Youth Sailing World Championships at Torbay. Photo: Sailing Energy / World Sailing.
As many as 79 sailors aged 14-19 in 52 boats have entered for the event which takes place on the Whangaparoa Peninsula on October 11-15.
There's a significant carrot on offer, given it's being used as a selection regatta for the NZL Sailing Foundation youth team to compete at December's Youth Sailing World Championships in Sanya, China.
Trials will be held in all five youth classes: RS:X 8.5, 420, 29er, Laser Radial and Nacra 15. Athletes who win their classes will be nominated for selection but will still have to prove they are capable of good results at the youth worlds - New Zealand competed in eight of the nine events last year.
Yachting New Zealand youth co-ordinator Stuart Thomas is encouraged by the growth of the event, which has seen the number of sailors rise from 51 two years ago.
"Part of the reason is strong clubs and classes," he said. "There are good numbers in youth sailing at the moment so it promises to be a good regatta.
"It should be a good, testing event and those who win nomination for the New Zealand Sailing Foundation youth team will have earned it."
The Laser Radial will be the strongest fleet with 20 entries but there will also be three Nacra 15 boats, the first time the class has been represented at the youth trials, and good growth in the regions has seen an increase in numbers in the 420.
Competitors will be sailing under the watchful eye of Manly Sailing Club's new commodore, five-time America's Cup winner Sir Russell Coutts.
The Youth Sailing World Championships is the premier event in youth sailing, with more than 400 sailors from over 60 nations are expected to compete on the waters off Hainan Island from December 9-16. Torbay hosted last year's edition, with New Zealand collecting one medal to sisters Kate and Greta Stewart in the girls' 29er.
