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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