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Above photo: Onne van der Wall/Red Bull
Talented kiwi duo and recently crowned Red Bull Foiling Generation World Champions Micah Wilkinson and Olivia Mackay have been named among the Yachting New Zealand performance award winners to be formally recognized at the Volvo Excellence awards evening on 25 November.
Photo// Onne van der Wall/Red Bull
The pairs’ victory at the world event in the USA last month follows a highly eventful year which has seen them bounce between the Olympic Nacra 17 class and the Flying Phantom one-design class to become both national and world champions.
As well as laying claim to the Under-23 Nacra 17 world title after finishing 19th at the World Championship event in Florida in February, the 20-year-olds also won the New Zealand Foiling Generation title in Auckland sailing the Flying Phantom, earning the right to compete on an international stage last month where they secured the Red Bull Foiling Generation world title.
“It’s been a pretty epic year really. Our first competitive year in the Nacra 17 has seen us in the mix with some really top teams, and to come back into the Red Bull foiling generation and win the event in the States was definitely pretty special,” crew Wilkinson explains.
With a passion for sailing fuelled by the thrill of speed, the youngster who started his sailing career on his home waters of Ngaroto Sailing Club says the transition to foiling sailing has been seamless.
“I’ve always loved going fast and have sailed for the speed aspect. The fact that we’ve put our best foot forward and proved that we can perform on the foils makes us both really excited for the future and where our sport is headed,” he adds.
Photo// Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull
Mackay, who hails from Napier Sailing Club has also proved a mixed crew in the Flying Phantom can be highly competitive.
On return from the States Wilkinson says the win still feels “pretty surreal”, but is thankful for the recognition from Yachting New Zealand and is eagerly anticipating the next Olympic cycle and upcoming regattas.
The Red Bull Foiling Generation was created by two-time Olympic Champions Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher to introduce skilled sailors aged between 16 and 20 to the leading-edge foiling technology used in the America’s Cup.
This year saw 15 national champion teams compete in Newport, with the other podium placing’s taken by pairs from Switzerland and Italy.
Mackay and Wilkinson will compete at Sail Melbourne in December in the Nacra 17 Class as well as the Sail Auckland Regatta later in the season.
Photo// Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull
