Experienced New Zealand team for youth worlds

Experienced New Zealand team for youth worlds

Seven New Zealand sailors with previous experience at the youth sailing world championships have been selected for July's youth worlds in the United States.

The NZL Sailing Foundation youth team to compete at Corpus Christi has been confirmed and includes Greta Stewart (Nacra 15), Seb Lardies and Scott McKenzie (boy's 29er), Josh Armit (boy's Laser Radial), Max van der Zalm (boy's RS:X) and Veerle ten Have (girl's RS:X) who all competed last year.

Stewart is the only one to have previously finished on the podium, having collected bronze medals at both the 2015 and 2016 youth worlds with her sister Kate in the 29er. Tom Fyfe (Nacra 15) competed in the 2016 Aon Youth Sailing World Championships in Auckland.

Another feature of the squad is the inclusion of Seb Menzies in the boy's 420 who, at 13, is one of the youngest New Zealanders to compete at the youth sailing world championships since the event's inception in 1971. Menzies will team up with Blake McGlashan after the pair were the top Kiwi combination at last month's New Zealand 420 class championships at Lyttelton.

"It's a high quality team with a mix of experienced youth campaigners and sailors going to their first youth sailing world championships," Yachting New Zealand youth co-ordinator Stu Thomas said. "We have high hopes for the team, who have a busy three months ahead of them to ensure they are prepared to perform at their best.

"The selectors were really impresssed with the quality of sailing they saw at the selection regattas and a strong team of coaches, led by Yachting New Zealand head coach Matt Thomas, are looking forward to working with them to help them prepare."

It's a short turnaround from the last youth worlds, which were sailed in China in December. Armit and Annabelle Rennie-Younger (girl's Laser Radial) were the best performed of the NZL Sailing Foundation youth team, with both finishing fifth in their class, and five crews finished inside the top 10.

The likes of Sam Meech (2008 bronze, Laser Radial), Alex Maloney (2010 silver, 29er), Jo Aleh (2004 silver, Laser Radial), Sir Russell Coutts (1979 silver, Laser and 1981 gold, Laser), Blair Tuke (2007 silver, 29er), Dean Barker (1990 gold, Laser and 1991 silver, Laser) and Stuart Bannatyne (1989 gold, Laser) have won medals at the youth sailing world championships.

The nations trophy is also awarded to the best overall country and New Zealand has won it twice (1994 and 2002) since it was introduduced in 1991.

NZL Sailing Foundation youth team to compete at July's youth sailing world championships in the US:

Josh Armit (boy's Laser Radial)
Samantha Stock (girl's Laser Radial)
Max van der Zalm (boy's RS:X)
Veerle ten Have (girl's RS:X)
Seb Lardies / Scott McKenzie (boy's 29er)
Greta Stewart / Tom Fyfe (Nacra 15)
Seb Menzies / Blake McGlashan (boy's 420)
Cara Higinbottom / Alice Floyd (girl's 420)

See here for sailor profiles.

• The team are proudly supported by the NZL Sailing Foundation (previously known as the NZL Yachting Trust), Oceanbridge, Zhik and HPSNZ.

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