Issue date
Representing New Zealand in the SL16 multihull class at the 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships are Micah Wilkinson and Jack Rogers.
Jack at left, Micah on the right pictured at the 2014 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team launch
Micah, from the Ngaroto Sailing Club is a returning member of the NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team. In 2013 he was crew of the gold medal winning SL16 duo and is now at the helm of the multihull class pairing with young Jack, from the Murrays Bay Sailing Club, for 2014. Jack is the youngest member of the 2014 team.
Micah and Jack competing at 2014 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland
Micah and Jack were second in the Yachting New Zealand selection trials for the 29er earning them the spot in the 2014 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team in the multihull class.
The pair will attend the SL16 World Championships on in France in early July as a build-up regatta to the 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships.
Q&A with Jack Rogers...
Q: How did you get into sailing?
A: My dad has sailed his whole life. When I was little we used to have a yacht and I got quite interested. We sold it so I could get into optis and p class and just went from there.
Q: Favourite thing to eat after a long day on the water?
A: French bread, beef, cheese, avocado all on one.
Q: Favourite place to sail?
A: Murrays Bay on Auckland’s North Shore
Q: Which New Zealand sailors do you admire most?
A: Andy and Jim Maloney, all of our youth team going this year and Sir Peter Blake
Q: What is the best thing about sailing your youth class boat?
A: It is fast, makes you work super hard and is a good looking boat.
Q: How will you prepare for the Youth Worlds and which regattas will you be attending in the lead-up?
A: We are putting in hours and hours of training, then doing the southern pacific viper regatta. Then we do more training into July, fly off to France for the Open SL16 Worlds and then go to ISAF Youth Worlds.
Q: What was the most proud moment of your sailing to date, and tell us how you felt?
A: When Micah and I got our first win at Oceanbridge Sail Auckland, there was a feeling that we had this… I had heaps of adrenaline running through me and everything just seemed to feel right. I was buzzing and didn't want to stop.
Q&A with Micah Wilkinson
Q: How did you get into sailing?
A: My mum Linda got me into sailing at the Karapiro Yacht Club at the age of 6
Q: Favourite thing to eat after a long day on the water?
A: Would definitely have to be Ginger Rogers French bread
Q: Favourite place to sail?
A: Really enjoying sailing out of Milford at the moment but Cyprus would have to be the favourite, can't beat 28 degree water!
Q: Which New Zealand sailors do you admire most?
A: I have a lot of respect for our main coaches Brett Sellers and Jim Maloney. I also idolise all the members of the NZL Sailing Team.
Q: What is the best thing about sailing your youth class boat?
A: It is a fast exciting catamaran. Also having a good sailing buddy, Jack, to sail and represent my country with is a bonus.
Q: How will you prepare for the Youth Worlds and which regattas will you be attending in the lead-up?
A: We have just competed in the Viper Asia Pacific champs over Easter, now we have two months of training off Milford being coached by Brett Sellers and Jim Maloney before we head to France to compete in the SL16 open worlds as a lead up regatta for the youth worlds.
Q: What was the most proud moment of your sailing to date, and tell us how you felt?
A: Winning the youth worlds last year was definitely the highlight, I felt extremely proud to represent my country and win, it was also a great relief after all the long and sometimes strenuous hours we put into our campaign. Also, narrowly winning Oceanbridge Sail Auckland against our good mates Markus and Isaac this year was an awesome achievement for Jack and I.
