Laser fleet from the 2008 edition of the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has published the Notice of Race for the 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship being held in Buzios, Brazil from 9-18 July 2009. The Caribbean was well represented last year in Arhus, Denmark with young sailors participating from the US and British Virgin Islands. With the 2009 event happening in our back yard (relatively speaking), the youth of the Caribbean may be even better represented. Young sailors have the chance to join the ranks of past notable winners include American’s Cup skippers, Chris Dickson (NZL), Russell Coutts (NZL), Dean Barker (NZL); Olympic medallists, Robert Scheidt (BRA), Amelie Lux (GER), Ben Ainslie (GBR), Nick Rogers (GBR) and Siren Sundby (NOR); Volvo Ocean Race sailors like Stuart Bannatyne (NZL) and Richard Clarke (CAN). The most successful ISAF Youth World Champions are Great Britain’s Sally Cuthbert and Poland’s Zofia Klepacka having won four successive titles in the Laser II and Mistral respectively.


In the 2008 edition of the Volvo Youth Sailing World Championship, the US and British Virgin Islands sailors ended up finishing just below the half way point in their respective fleets. Sailing in very windy and cold conditions, these sailors are probably excited to be returning to the warm waters of their home. Aaron Barcant, from the USVI, finished in 26th place in the Laser fleet (23, 15, (27), 26, 18, 26, 21,21,26, 20 (41)). Racing in a fleet of 45 boats, Aaron’s best race was a 15th place. Alec Anderson from the BVI finished in 36th place in the Laser fleet. Due to his size, Alec usually sails a radial rig so given the wind strength, he most likely found the conditions challenging. USVI sailor Mayumi Roller finished in 25th place in the women’s Radial Laser division. With each passing day, Mayumi performance improved (24, (31), (29), 26, 23, 27, 25, 26,17, 22, 18).

The Iate Clube de Armação de Buzios in the Brazilian city of Armação de Buzios, located just 180km northeast of Rio de Janeiro, will host an anticipated 200+ of the world’s best young sailing talent for the 39th edition of the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship. This is a landmark year for the Youth Worlds as it marks the first time the Championship has ever been held in South America. The 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship will be organized by Rio de Janeiro State Sailing Federation (FEVERJ) in affiliation with the Confederação Brasileira de Vela e Motor (CBVM) under the authority of ISAF.

Bruno MARQUES, Chairman of the Organising Committee, said, “We’re looking forward to welcoming the best young sailors in the world to Buzios for the first ever Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship to be held in South America. Buzios is famous for its beautiful beaches and watersports and during July we have perfect sailing conditions, with slightly cooler temperatures and wind speeds mainly in the 8-16 knot range. We’re committed to providing the Youth Worlds with a memorable first visit to South America.”

The 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship is part of an exciting year of sailing in the Rio de Janeiro state. Leg five of the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race finishes in Rio, with the fleet, which is currently being led by Brazilian sailing superstar Torben Grael and the Ericsson 4 team, expected to arrive around the 20 March. Before heading off for Boston on leg six, the Rio In-Port race will give spectators a chance to get a closer view of the VO70’s in action.


Youth Worlds Events
Nations can enter a maximum of one team per event at the Youth Worlds and all competitors must be under 19 years old on 31 December 2009 to be eligible to enter. Racing will take place in seven events below. Along with competition in the individual events, the Volvo Trophy, currently held by Great Britain, will be awarded to the top-performing nation at the Championship.

2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship Events
0. Boy’s One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
0. Girl’s One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
0. Boy’s Two Person Dinghy - 420
0. Girl’s Two Person Dinghy - 420
0. Boy’s Windsurfer - RS:X with 8.5m2 sail & 60cm fin
0. Girl’s Windsurfer - RS:X with 8.5m2 sail & 60cm fin
0. Open Multihull - Hobie 16 with Spinnaker

Athlete Participation Programme
ISAF's Athlete Participation Programme (APP) will again provide funding to assist sailors from developing sailing nations with entry and travel costs. ISAF Member National Authorities (MNAs) have already been sent details on the 2009 APP and should note the deadline for funding applications is 15 December 2008. Find out more at http://www.sailing.org/app

Although the 2009 edition of the Youth Worlds is the first to be held in South America, the continent has already made a significant impact on the Championship. Many young South American sailors demonstrated their potential with medal-winning performances at the Youth Worlds before going on to achieve success at the very highest level of the sport. Brazil’s Robert Scheidt, won gold in the Laser at the 1991 Youth Worlds in Largs and has since won two gold and two silver medals at the Olympic Games as well as eight World Championship titles in the Laser and another in the Star class. Brazilian windsurfer Ricardo Santos is another Youth Worlds winner who has gone on to record World Championship gold at the senior level.

Looking towards the future, Brazil will be aiming to build on the success of the young team that recorded one of their best-ever performance in the Volvo Trophy standings at the 2008 Youth Worlds. The Brazilian youngsters certainly have all the right credentials; 29er helm in 2008 was Martine Grael, daughter of Torben Grael, Brazil’s five-time Olympic medallist and the skipper of the Ericsson 4 team which currently sits on top of the leaderboard for the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race.

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