www.Sail-Search.com: ISAF and Rolex are proud to announce the Nominees for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2008.
ISAF received nominations from across the world representing all aspects of the sport in two categories - male and female - and the following 10 nominations have been shortlisted. The qualifying period is the year up until 1 September 2008 and all achievements during this time are taken into consideration.

The 2008 nominees are:

Female
Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB & Pippa WILSON (GBR)
Claire LEROY (FRA)
Elise RECHICHI & Tessa PARKINSON (AUS)
Alessandra SENSINI (ITA)
Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA)

Male
Ben AINSLIE (GBR)
Tom ASHLEY (NZL)
Francis JOYON (FRA)
Vincenzo ONORATO (ITA)
Ian WILLIAMS (GBR)

The winners will be selected by the ISAF Member National Authorities, the national governing bodies for sailing around the world, who are now invited to vote for the one male and one female nomination who they believe most deserves the Award.

The winners will be announced at the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards presentation and dinner which is being held on Tuesday 11 November 2008. The venue for the event is the stunning Quinta de Jarama in Madrid, Spain.

Each winner will be presented with the prestigious ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award Trophy and a distinctive Rolex timepiece.

The achievements of the 2008 Nominees are:

FEMALE NOMINEES

Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB & Pippa WILSON (GBR)

With one goal in mind for 2008 - Olympic gold, the talented British team of Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB and Pippa WILSON spent the lead-up to the Games proving to the world they were the number one Yngling crew by claiming a clean sweep of the highest graded events of the year.

Heading to Miami for the Yngling Women's World Championship in February 2008, AYTON, WEBB and WILSON were keen to start the Olympic year with a gold medal and they did just that, convincingly defending the World title they picked up in 2007 with a massive 39 points margin over the second place Australian team.

A return to Europe saw the team competing in Palma, Spain at the HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE where they picked up a silver medal before travelling to Blanes, Spain for the Europeans, where once again they ended the regatta at the top of the podium. There were bronze medals at the next two ISAF Grade 1 events in Hyères and Medemblik before the team settled into Qingdao for the big one, the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition.

It was in wet, blustery conditions that the first ever Medal Race of an Olympic Games took place and the British Yngling team led by one point from their closest rivals from the Netherlands. In an extremely close race AYTON, WEBB and WILSON demonstrated once again their cool, calm style and supreme ability to make it count when it really matters. They controlled the race from start to finish and in securing the race victory they entered the record books as the first crew to win an Olympic Medal Race and with that, the first gold medal of the Competition. The ultimate dream was a reality; Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB and Pippa WILSON were the 2008 European, World and Olympic Champions.

1 - RYA Winter Challenge Match Racing, GBR - ISAF Grade 4 - Nov 2007
5 - Rolex Miami OCR, Miami, USA - ISAF Grade 1 - Jan 2008
1 - Yngling Women World Championship, Miami, USA - ISAF Grade W - Feb 2008
2 - HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE, Palma, ESP - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
1 - Yngling Women European Championship, Blanes, ESP - ISAF Grade C1 - Apr 2008
3 - Semaine Olympique Française, Hyères, FRA - ISAF Grade 1 - Apr 2008
3 - Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, NED - ISAF Grade 1 - May 2008
1 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) - # 1

ISAF World Sailing Rankings # 1 from 3 October 2007 to 6 February 2008 and 9 April to 3 September 2008

Claire LEROY (FRA)

2007 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year, French skipper Claire LEROY continues to dominate women's match racing. In 2008 LEROY notched up another five ISAF Graded event wins, defended her World Champion title and maintained her seat at the # 1 position on the ISAF World Match Race Rankings where she has been since 4 May 2005.

Her first victory in 2008 came in February when she secured the RYA Women's Winter Challenge. She then clinched the New Zealand Women's title in Auckland and the Harken Women's International Championship in Australia before returning to Auckland for the 2008 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship. The successful defence of her title was shared with crew member Elodie BERTRAND and new crew mates Marie RIOU and Claire PRUVOT.

After the Worlds it was back to Europe and another gold medal at the ISAF Grade 1 Match Cup Sweden in Marstrand followed by a silver medal in Calpe, Spain at the ISAF Grade 1 International Women's Match Race Criterium. This remarkable young skipper continues to prove her ability to dominate her field of women's sailing.

8 - IV Open de España, Calpe, ESP - ISAF Grade 2 - Sep 2007
2 - Brasil Women's Cup, Vitoria, BRA - ISAF Grade W - Nov 2007
12 - Brasil Sailing Cup, Vitoria, BRA - ISAF Grade W - Nov 2007
1 - RYA Women's Winter Challenge, GBR - ISAF Grade 2 - Feb 2008
1 - New Zealand Women's Match Racing Championship, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
1 - Harken Women's International Match Racing Championship, CYCA, AUS - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
1 - ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade W - Apr 2008
1 - Match Cup Sweden, Marstrand, SWE - ISAF Grade 1 - Jun 2008
2 - XI International Women's Match Race Criterium, Calpe, ESP - ISAF Grade 1 - Aug 2008

ISAF World Match Race Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (30 July 2008) - # 1

Elise RECHICHI & Tessa PARKINSON (AUS)

Well known faces from the ISAF Youth Worlds, this young team showed their intent at the 2008 470 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, where they picked up their first bronze medal of the year. Hitting the European graded event circuit, they posted some mixed results before once again making the results count where it mattered with another bronze at the ISAF Grade C1 European Championships in Italy.

But it wasn't bronze that this team was after when they got to Qingdao for the Olympic Sailing Competition. Gold was the colour they dreamed of and their win was convincing. One of just four crews who won a gold medal with no previous Olympic experience, RECHICHI and PARKINSON went into their Medal Race with an 18 point lead over their nearest rivals, the three time World Champions from the Netherlands.

They sailed a tactical Medal Race to ensure the Dutch team could not steal their gold medal away and crossed the finish line to secure an Australian 470 double for coach Victor KOVALENKO. At just 21 years old RECHICHI and PARKINSON were the youngest gold medallists at the Olympic Sailing Competition and look set for a bright future.

24 - Sail Melbourne International Regatta, Melbourne, AUS - ISAF Grade 1 - Jan 2008
3 - 470 World Championships, Melbourne, AUS - ISAF Grade W - Jan 2008
15 - Semaine Olympique Française, Hyères, FRA - ISAF Grade 1 - Apr 2008
9 - Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, NED - ISAF Grade 1 - May 2008
3 - 470 European Championships, Riva del Garda, ITA - ISAF Grade C1 - Jun 2008
1 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) - # 6

Alessandra SENSINI (ITA)

Alessandra SENSINI entered the record books in 2008 when she became the first woman to win four Olympic medals in sailing.
At the age of 38, SENSINI has been a force to be reckoned with on the windsurfing circuit for decades and continues to demonstrate her outstanding skill by adapting seamlessly to new equipment as the sport develops and maintaining the extreme physical fitness demanded by the discipline.
She began her 2008 season with a gold medal at the 2008 RS:X World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, her second title in the class since the inaugural World Championship in 2006. After a solid series including five race wins, SENSINI was on equal points with fellow veteran windsurfer Barbara KENDALL from New Zealand, but the Italian sailed a clinical Medal Race to secure her fourth windsurfing world title.

Back to Europe and SENSINI picked up another gold medal at the HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE in Palma, Spain and 20th at the Europeans in Brest, France. On to Qingdao for the Olympic Sailing Competition and SENSINI had her sights set on the podium again. An impressive series of results, not finishing a race outside the top ten, SENSINI flirted with the top of the leaderboard throughout the opening series. Going into the Medal Race she had to put two competitors between herself and the Chinese sailor and duly put in a true champions performance to convincingly win the race. The action unfolding behind SENSINI gave YIN the gold medal but SENSINI was delighted with her historic achievement of a 4th Olympic medal by adding the silver to her gold medal from Sydney in 2000 and bronze medals from Athens in 2004 and Atlanta in 1996.

2 - RS:X New Zealand National Championships, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade 3 - Dec 2007
1 - RS:X World Championships, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade W - Jan 2008
1 - HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE, Palma, ESP - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
20 - RS:X European Championships, Brest, FRA - ISAF Grade C1 - May 2008
2 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) - # 6

Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA)

Anna Tunnicliffe has been a quiet but dominant presence in the Laser Radial fleet for some time and set out in pursuit of her Olympic dream four years ago. Her determination and discipline has seen her pick up medals from four ISAF Grade 1 events in 2008 and seen her top the ISAF World Sailing Rankings for more than half of the nomination period.

TUNNICLIFFE's consistency was the key to her success at the Olympic Sailing Competition and with only one race finish lower than sixth she was in great shape to claim her first Olympic medal after the opening series. One of TUNNICLIFFE's great strengths is her ability to read the wind shifts and shine under pressure, which she demonstrated to perfection to pull off a magnificent comeback in the Laser Radial Medal Race.

Challenging for the gold medal were two other sailors and a poor start for TUNNICLIFFE saw her back in ninth place at the start of the second lap with her dreams of glory over. TUNNICLIFFE was not giving up without a fight and read the shifts perfectly to battle her way back through the fleet to third by the final mark. With the wind decreasing on the final leg, the fleet compressed but TUNNICLIFFE fought on, finished the race in second place and clinched her first Olympic gold medal.

4 - US Women's Match Racing Championship, Detroit, USA - ISAF Grade 3 - Sep 2007 (Match Racing)
6 - Rolex Osprey Cup, St Petersburg, USA - ISAF Grade 1 - Oct 2007 (Match Racing)
9 - Sail Melbourne International Regatta, Melbourne, AUS - ISAF Grade C1 - Jan 2008
2 - Rolex Miami OCR, Miami, USA - ISAF Grade 1 - Jan 2008
3 - Sail Auckland, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade 1 - Feb 2008
6 - Laser Radial Women's World Championship, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade W - Mar 2008
2 - Semaine Olympique Française, Hyères, FRA - ISAF Grade 1 - Apr 2008
1 - Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, NED - ISAF Grade 1 - May 08
14 - Kiel Week, Kiel, GER - ISAF Grade 1 - Jun 2008
1 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 Sep 2008) - # 1

ISAF World Sailing Rankings # 1 from 3 October to 19 December 2007 and 9 April to 3 September 2008

MALE NOMINEES

Ben AINSLIE (GBR)

Unbeaten in the Finn since 2004 and twice a previous winner of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, Ben AINSLIE is a sailor who knows how to pick his moments. Returning to the Olympic circuit following the conclusion of the 32nd America's Cup, AINSLIE kept his hand in on the match racing circuit but sent a clear signal to the Finn fleet in December 2007 that he was back on the scene and hungry for a third Olympic gold medal.

His first Grade 1 victory of this nomination period came at the Sydney International Regatta in December 2007 and he marched on to pick up another gold medal at Sail Melbourne before taking on his fifth Finn Gold Cup in January 2008. After a solid series Ainslie consolidated his record number of Finn Gold Cup wins by bringing his tally to five. The next two events also saw AINSLIE on the top of the podium and before setting off to China for the Olympic Games he claimed his fourth European title in a nail biting final race in Scarlino, Italy.

On to China and AINSLIE rarely looked troubled out on the complex waters of Qingdao. With just one real challenge left by the Medal Race it was business as usual for this unstoppable Brit. The gold medal was his and he made another strike in the record books, joining the ranks of the world's most successful Olympic sailors with three gold and one silver medal. AINSLIE ends the nomination period with the European, World and Olympic titles to his name.

1 - RYA National Match Racing Qualifier, Weymouth, GBR - ISAF Grade 4 - Sep 2007
1 - Cento Cup, Trapani, ITA - ISAF Grade 1 - Oct 2007 (match racing)
1 - Go for Gold Regatta, Melbourne, AUS - ISAF Grade 3 - Dec 2007
1 - Sydney International Regatta, Sydney, AUS - ISAF Grade 1 - Dec 2007
1 - Sail Melbourne International Regatta, Melbourne, AUS - ISAF Grade 1 - Jan 2008
1 - Finn Gold Cup - ISAF Grade W - Jan 2008
1 - HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE, Palma, ESP - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
1 - Finn European Championship, Scarlino, ITA - ISAF Grade C1 - May 2008
1 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) - # 13

Tom ASHLEY (NZL)

The quest for Olympic glory has been on the agenda for this young Kiwi sailor for some time. Since finishing 10th in Athens at the age of 20, ASHLEY has matured into a world beater on the windsurfing scene, a status he confirmed in January 2008 when he won the RS:X World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand. A consistent series with four race wins saw ASHLEY start the final day at the top of the leaderboard and sail a tactical race to ensure he secured the Championship title in front of his home crowd.

A quick trip to Europe and a bronze medal at the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik and ASHLEY was set up for achieving his Olympic dream.

ASHLEY's intensive training regime and focus on being the best all round sailor paid dividends again in Qingdao and with a consistent series he went into the Medal Race third overall but just one point behind the leader. ASHLEY sailed a near flawless Medal Race to win a tight three way battle for the gold medal, the first for New Zealand in sailing since 1992 and he ends the nomination period as World and Olympic Champion.

1 - RS:X New Zealand National Championships, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade 3 - Dec 2007
1 - RS:X World Championships, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade W - Jan 2008
3 - Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, NED - ISAF Grade 1 - May 2008
1 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) - # 4

Francis JOYON (FRA)

It took Francis JOYON just 57 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes and 6 seconds to sail solo, non-stop around the world aboard his 98ft trimaran IDEC.

Departing from Brest, France on 23 November 2007 JOYON's voyage encompassed 26,400 nautical miles of excitement, which he covered at an average speed of 15.84 knots slicing a staggering 14 days off the previous record set by Ellen MACARTHUR in 2005.

JOYON's journey began as he meant to continue. Precisely following the battle plan drawn up by his weather router, he covered over 500 miles a day to reach the Equator in six days and a little over 18 hours. After just ten days of sailing, JOYON was already 800 miles ahead of MACARTHUR's record and he shot round the Cape of Good Hope after 15 days, increasing his lead to four days.

JOYON reached the halfway point in 27 days and after carefully threading his way through storms, calm and iceberg territory he reached Cape Horn on 29 December, 35 days after departing from Brest and notching up an average speed of 21 knots.

As JOYON began the home straight the slowdown was sudden. Becalmed and sailing upwind, the South Atlantic showed no mercy. On 8 January he finally managed to pick up the easterly trade wind and began to wind back up to speed, crossing the Equator two days later. A trip up the mast to repair the main halyard highlighted a more serious problem which could have brought the mast - and the record - crashing down in seconds. JOYON climbed his 32 metre mast three times to limit the potential damage but there was more to come. The final days of this epic voyage were spent with the dangers of a deep depression in the Bay of Biscay but JOYON triumphantly arrived back in Brest, completing the remarkable feat in a record breaking 57 days and picking up four other records along the way.

WSSRC Ratified Records - IDEC 98ft Trimaran
Single-handed Round the World Record - 23 Nov 2007 - 19 Jan 2008 - 57 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes and 6 seconds, average speed 15.84 knots
Single-handed 24 hour record - 12 Dec 2007 - 613.5 miles, average speed 25.56 knots
Single-handed Indian Ocean record - 18 Dec 2007 - 9 days, 12 hours and 6 minutes
Single-handed Pacific Ocean record - 28 Dec 2007 - 10 days, 14 hours and 26 minutes
Single-handed Equator to Equator record - 10 Jan 2008 - 41 days, 9 hours and 14 minutes

Vincenzo ONORATO (ITA)

Vincenzo ONORATO and his Mascalzone Latino sailing team claimed a sailing first in 2008 when they won the Rolex Farr40 World Champion title for an unprecedented third consecutive year.

ONORATO has only once not finished on the podium of a Farr40 event in 2008 and his list of accolades includes second place at the prestigious ISAF Offshore Team World Championships in Sardinia and the European title.

The first event for the Mascalzone Latino team in 2008 was Acura Key West Race Week, where ONORATO lead his team to the podium and a silver medal. From Key West to Miami and another silver medal at the Acura Miami Race Week, the team were set for their defence of the World Championship title in April.

After finishing in tenth place at the Pre-Worlds, ONORATO got down to business. Only finishing two races outside the top ten, the Italian team lead the overall standings from day one. In an all Italian showdown for the title on the final day of racing it was to be ONORATO's day. He finished the series 24 points ahead of second placed Joe Fly skippered by Giovanni MASPERO to win his third World Championship.

ONORATO's commitment to the Farr40 class is tireless and his results speak for themselves. The intense, competitive Farr40 racing is not for the faint hearted and the talented Italian wrapped up the nomination period by adding the European crown to his World title at the Rolex Farr40 European Championship in Travemunde, Germany.

2 - Acura Key West Race Week, Key West, USA - Jan 2008
2 - Acura Miami Race Week, Miami, USA - Mar 2008
10 - Rolex Farr40 Pre-Worlds, Miami, USA - Apr 2008
1 - Rolex Farr40 World Championship, Miami, USA - Apr 2008
3 - Audi Farr40 Cup, Sardinia, ITA - Jun 2008
2 - Rolex Sardinia Cup ISAF Team Offshore World Championship, Sardinia, ITA - Jun 2008 (team result)
1 - Farr40 Copenhagen Regatta, Copenhagen, DEN - Jul 2008
1 - Rolex Farr40 European Championship, Travemunde, GER - Aug 2008

1 - Circuit Nordic European Farr40 2008

Ian WILLIAMS (GBR)

Ian WILLIAMS from Great Britain won the 2007 ISAF Match Racing World Championship title after sweeping to victory at the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia, the final event of the 2007 World Match Racing Tour. WILLIAMS' victory in Malaysia was all the more fitting as he claimed his title by defeating 2006 World Champion Peter GILMOUR (AUS) in the final.

WILLIAMS followed up his world title competing at Grade 2 and 3 events in Europe where he claimed yet more podium positions before returning to the World Match Racing Tour in April 2008. WILLIAMS competed at all five Tour events of the 2008 season which took place within the nomination period and picked up podium finishes at three of them.

The first event of the 2008 Tour was the Brasil Sailing Cup in Vitoria, Brazil and WILLIAMS signalled his intentions from the outset. After leading into the knockout stages he eventually finished third but secured valuable early points on the Tour leadboard. Consistent results from WILLIAMS and Team Pindar and they were at the top of the Tour Standings at the end of the nomination period with a total of 72 points, a cushion of 15 points over their nearest rivals. WILLIAMS rounded off the nomination period with victory at the Danish Open in Frederikshavn.

The city lawyer who left the court house for the race course has become one of the great names on the match racing circuit and has flirted with the # 1 position of the ISAF World Match Race Rankings throughout the nomination period.

6 - Latium Match Cup, Fiumicino, ITA - ISAF Grade W - Sep 2007
12 - King Edward VII Gold Cup, Hamilton, BER - ISAF Grade W - Oct 2007
5 - Brasil Sailing Cup, Vitoria, BRA - ISAF Grade W - Nov 2007
1 - Monsoon Cup, Kuala Terengganu, MAS - ISAF Grade W - Nov 2007
1 - ISAF Match Racing World Championship & World Match Race Tour Winner
1 - RYA Winter Challenge 2, GBR - ISAF Grade 2 - Dec 2007
3 - RYA Winter Challenge 3, GBR - ISAF Grade 2 - Feb 2008
1 - GKSS Ice Breaker, Langedrag, SWE - ISAF Grade 3 - Apr 2008
3 - Brasil Sailing Cup, Vitoria, BRA - ISAF Grade W - Apr 2008
4 - Match Race Germany, Langenargen, GER - ISAF Grade W - May 2008
2 - Korea Match Cup, Jeongok, KOR - ISAF Grade W - Jun 2008
9 - GKSS Match Cup Sweden, Marstrand, SWE - ISAF Grade W - Jun 2008
1 - Danish Open, Frederikshavn, DEN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Match Race Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (30 July 2008) - #2

ISAF World Match Race Rankings #1 from 26 September to 24 October 2007 and from 25 June to 30 July 2008.

www.Sail-Search.com: Nominations are now invited for the 2008 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, the most prestigious award of recognition in the sport of sailing. The list of nominees and winners since the first presentation in 1994 is an exceptional roll call of the world's top sailors from all disciplines of the sport.

There is only one male and one female ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year, who will not only win the coveted Rolex timepiece and trophy, but receive true recognition of their achievement from their peers across the world.

Nominations can be made by anyone and the only criteria are that sailors must have performed an "outstanding achievement in the sport" during the qualifying period of 1 September 2007 to 31 August 2008. Nominations should be sent in to ISAF by 10.00hrs (UTC) on Friday 5 September 2008 on the official form which can be found via www.sailing.org/worldsailor

A shortlist will be drawn up by ISAF from all of the nominations received at the ISAF Secretariat by the deadline and those sailors will go on to become the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2008 Nominees. The 126 ISAF Member National Authorities will then vote for one male and one female sailor who they believe merit the Awards.

The accomplishments of the sailors nominated each year are an inspiration - from windsurfers and dinghy sailors to offshore specialists, a nominee's achievements may be an exceptional series of regatta wins, a record breaking passage or a triumph against the odds. And, whilst there have already been some remarkable achievements in our sport since September 2007, with the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition rapidly approaching we are set to witness many more.

The winners will be announced at an Awards dinner on Tuesday 11 November in Madrid, Spain, host city for the ISAF Annual Conference. They will be presented with the unique marble and silver trophy depicting the globe, crowned with five silver spinnakers representing the continents, together with a personalized Rolex timepiece.

The past nominees and winners of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year include the highest achievers in the sport, with the winners' roll call reading:

2007 - Ed BAIRD (USA) and Claire LEROY (FRA)
2006 - Mike SANDERSON (NZL) and Paige RAILEY (USA)
2005 - Fernando ECHAVARRI; Anton PAZ (ESP) and Ellen MACARTHUR (GBR)
2004 - Robert SCHEIDT (BRA) and Sofia BEKATOROU; Emilia TSOULFA (GRE)
2003 - Russell COUTTS (SUI) and Siren SUNDBY (NOR)
2002 - Ben AINSLIE (GBR) and Sofia BEKATOROU; Emilia TSOULFA (GRE)
2001 - Robert SCHEIDT (BRA) and Ellen MACARTHUR (GBR)
2000 - Mark REYNOLDS; Magnus LILJEDAHL (USA) and Shirley ROBERTSON (GBR)
1999 - Mateusz KUSZNIEREWICZ (POL) and Margriet MATTHIJSE (NED)
1998 - Ben AINSLIE (GBR) and Carolijn BROUWER (NED)
1997 - Pete GOSS (GBR) and Ruslana TARAN; Elena PAKHOLCHIK (UKR)
1996 - Jochen SCHÜMANN (GER) and Lee-Lai SHAN (HKG)
1995 - Russell COUTTS (NZL) and Isabelle AUTISSIER (FRA)
1994 - Peter BLAKE (NZL); Robin KNOX JOHNSTON (GBR) and Theresa ZABELL (ESP)

www.Sail-Search.com: Århus, Denmark – 18 July, 2008 – Great Britain topped the medal table as the podium positions were decided on the final day of racing at the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Århus, Denmark.

On the final day of the 38th championship all the medal positions bar the Boy’s 29er fleet remained the same from yesterday’s leaderboard. Argentines Germán Billoch and Gastón Cheb Terrab clinched a win in the last race of the series pushing the American’s Judge Ryan and Hans Hensen into bronze position.

An elated Terrab explained, “I am really, really happy to get a silver medal here. We had a bad start but we took the right hand side and had great speed. We kept looking for the gusts and when we tacked over we were in front of everyone, including the British boys. We always had speed today and just maintained our lead. USA got a sixth in the race which was enough for us to jump up.”

The GBR boys James Peters and Edward Fitzgerald posted a fourth today but after the disqualification of the Americans from one of yesterday’s race they were never going to be caught. A delighted Peters said, ““It’s a dream come true really. It’s just so good that all the hard work we put in and all the hours in January in the freezing cold have finally paid off. It’s just great that we could make it count in this event.”

Fitzgerald added, “When I started sailing with James, ever since then everything’s been towards it [winning the Youth Worlds], so I can’t really believe it yet.”

The Volvo Trophy went to Britain but the fight for second place was a close fought one with New Zealand pipping Australia to the post with only two points separating them.

“To come out here and win two gold medals, a bronze medal, win the Volvo Trophy and to also finish topping the medal table, we’ve got to be pleased with that,” said Simon Wergen, RYA Youth Racing Manager. He explained that teamwork was key to the British success, “We have really sailed as a team here and when people have needed to post results to score us points in the Volvo Trophy standings, they went out and did it.”

Helping Britain to win the Volvo trophy was the Girl’s 29er team of Frances Peters and Claire Lasko who came second in today’s race and were very pleased with their consistency throughout the event. Peters commented, “We are the most pleased about this win than any other competition and winning the Volvo Trophy for the GBR Team is a bonus.”

Dutch team Annemiek Bekkering and Jeske Kisters pushed the Brits the whole way through the series to win the silver medal with Hannah Nattrass and Michelle Muller of Australia winning their second consecutive bronze medal.

In the SL16 fleet the focus was on the battle for silver and bronze after French brothers Valentin and Romain Bellet had secured overall victory yesterday. The Australian team of Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin were fast starters and lead around the course to score their first bullet of the championship and move up to sixth place overall. Of the four teams who had a shot at a medal, Singapore put in the best performance with a second place but it was not quite enough. The young South African team of helm Matthew Whitehead, aged 14, and crew Michael Ovenstone, aged 17, scored their worst result of the regatta with a tenth place finish, but crucially their closest challengers for second place overall, the British team of James Ellis and Andrew Glover were only one place ahead. This gave Whitehead and Ovenstone the silver medal, whilst Ellis and Glover won bronze on countback from Singaporeans Wen Chun Low and Jonathan Russel Wei Xiang Chew.

Although narrowly missing out on the medals, the Singapore team will not leave Århus empty handed. They won the Bengt Julin Trophy for Sportsmanship, re-introduced at this year’s championship and voted for by other teams and competitors. The team won this for their friendly attitude and helpful manner with everyone at the championships, especially the Athlete Participation Programme (APP) sailors.

Team Cyprus has only three competitors in the championships, making their two gold medals, one by Pavlos Kontides in the Laser and the other in the Boy’s RS:X fleet by Michalis Malekkides, even more impressive. Kontides won his last race and straight after praised his team for doing so well. “I can’t believe that we won two gold medals it is great for a country as small as mine that we have two World Champions at this event. I hope this makes more people start sailing at home. It still hasn’t sunk in yet and I can’t believe I have won two golds.”

Luke Lawrence (USA) did not sail today knowing he had done enough to secure silver yesterday from New Zealander Sam Meech in bronze position. Århus local Thorbjoern Schierup pushed himself to the limit to try and catch Meech but later admitted that he went too far and got a yellow flag for an incident in the only race of the day.

In the Laser Radial fleet Gabrielle King (AUS) still went out today to try and retain Team Australians position in the Volvo Trophy standings and won her race but unfortunately it was not enough to secure a second for them. Susana Romero of Spain posted a third in the last race which won her the silver medal with New Zealand’s Cushla Hume-Merry in bronze position.

There was no change at the top of the Girl’s RS:X with Polish windsurfer Maja Dziarnowska posting a first today and Patricia Freitas (BRA) close behind her in second, but this was not enough for the Brazilian to steal silver from her. Laura Linares (ITA) said her third gold medal win had still not sunk in, “I still can’t believe it, it is wonderful!”

Cypriot Michalis Malekkides in the RS:X was beaten by both the Greek Thiseas Kampas and German competitor, Oliver-Tom Schliemann today but it did not change his gold medallist position. Kampas retained his silver medal while Schliemann, despite winning the race had to settle for bronze.

The competitors will be awarded their medals and trophies at the Musikhuset in Århus tonight, bringing the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships to a close. Next year’s event will be held in Buzios, Brazil on 9-18 July 2009.

For overall results go to: http://www.youthworlds2008.org/Results.aspx

The South African positions:

1. Rudi McNeill - Laser, 18th
2. Claire Walker - Laser, 38th
3. Taariq Jacobs and Neil Malan - 29'er, 7th
4. Mathew Whitehead and Michael Ovenstone - Sirena SL16, 2nd.

South Africa managed a 16th place overall in the Volvo Team Trophy.

South Africa's Matthew Whitehead and Michael Ovenstone celebrate winning the 2nd place in SL16 Multihull class at the award ceremony of the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.
Photo credit: onEdition

South Africa's Claire Walker, Laser Radial class, on the 4th racing day of this years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.
Photo credit: onEdition

South Africa's Taariq Jacobs and Neil Malan, 29er class, on the 4th racing day of this years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.
Photo credit: onEdition

South Africa's Rudi McNeill, Laser class, on the 4th racing day of this years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.
Photo credit: onEdition

Århus, Denmark – 17 July, 2008 – The records tumbled at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship with all seven titles decided, Great Britain secured the Volvo Trophy and a new generation of sailing stars emerged in Århus.

Cyprus and Great Britain won two titles, with the others going to Australia, France and Italy on a record breaking day in Århus, Denmark. Great Britain is in an unbeatable position in the Volvo Trophy standings and therefore wins the title for the best performing nation at the Youth Worlds for the first time since 1996.

Pavlos Kontides (CYP) became the first ever two-time winner of the ISAF St Lawrence Trophy, presented to the winner of the Boy’s One Person Dinghy event – an incredible achievement considering the sailors to have come closest to it in the past (by winning one gold and one silver medal) are Russell Coutts (NZL), Ben Ainslie (GBR), Dean Barker (NZL) and Dan Slater (NZL)! Kontides did not have his best day today, but has dominated the Laser fleet throughout the series to win with two races to spare.

Pavlos Kontides from Cyprus, Laser class, on the 4th racing day of this years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.
Photo credit: onEdition

Kontides explained, “It hasn’t sunk in yet that I have won. I can’t believe that two people from my country is in the top ten, that is great. I had a bad last race today but it didn’t matter in the end. I was fifth from last at the top mark because of a massive wind shift but managed to get back to 16th or 17th so I was happy. This is my fifth and last Youth Worlds and I can’t believe I am the only person to win two gold medals.”

After five years at the Youth Worlds, next stop for Kontides will be Qingdao, China, where he will represent Cyprus at the Beijing Olympic Games. After 30 years at the Youth Worlds, as GBR then ISAF World Youth Trust Sailing Coach, Jim Saltonstall is better placed than anyone to assess the potential of this future star. “He’s really like another Ben Ainslie; as Ben was for GBR, Pavlos is for Cyprus. It won’t surprise me at all if he doesn’t win a medal in China because he’s quite capable of doing that.”

Luke Lawrence (USA) also secured the silver medal in the Laser fleet, whilst the battle for bronze will go down to the final day. Sam Meech moved into third place overall after a disastrous day for Århus local Thorbjoern Schierup (DEN). The Dane got caught on the wrong side of the same wind shift that caught out Kontides, eventually finishing 36th to drop to fourth overall, five points off the podium.

Another record breaker today was Laura Linares of Italy. She won her third consecutive title in the Girl’s Windsurfer event on the RS:X and became the first sailor in the 38-year history of the event to win five Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship medals. Like Kontides, Linares dominated the series from start to finish only once finishing outside of the top-two places.

Two-time Youth Worlds gold medallist Laura Linares of Italy, prepares to compete in the RS:X Windsurfer class at this years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.
Photo credit: onEdition

“Five ISAF’s, five medals. Unbelievable. It’s really fantastic results and I’m really satisfied and really happy. I realized my dream. It’s unbelievable. I can’t believe it,” said a delighted Linares. In the battle for the remaining podium spots, just two points separate Maja Dziarnowska (POL) and Patricia Freitas (BRA) in second and third place respectively.

Gabrielle King made it a triple success for the Kingston gold medallists, defending her title in the Laser Radial with another superb performance. King scored her fourth and fifth bullets of the championship in today’s two races to take the title in style. “I thought after day two it was a possibility to win and then the wind gods looked down on me and things kept going my way and it has ended up with this win. This is the best event I love it,” said the ecstatic young Australian. Susana Romero of Spain currently lies in the silver medal position, just four points ahead of New Zealand’s Cushla Hume-Merry.

Australia's Gabrielle King, Laser Radial class, on the 4th racing day of this years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.
Photo credit: onEdition

The British teams scored a double victory in the 29er fleets. The Girl’s team of Frances Peters and Claire Lasko were delighted to have the gold medal in the bag after the second race of the day. They were mostly pleased about the consistency throughout the week’s competition. They were disappointed with their performance at the Youth Nationals despite winning the event because they felt they could have done better but here was a different story. Peters commented, "It hasn't sunk in yet. It is a relief because this is what we have been working towards for so long. Seven hours out on the water in December has finally paid off and it is all worth while now. This is why we did all that training and worked so hard.”

Annemiek Bekkering and Jeske Kisters of the Netherlands have also secured the silver medal, whilst Hannah Nattrass and Michelle Muller are well placed to repeat their third place finish of last year.

James Peters, brother of Frances, and Edward Fitzgerald won Great Britain’s second gold medal in the Boy’s 29er fleet. It had looked like being a final day shootout between the Brits and the USA crew of Judge Ryan and Hans Henken, but the Americans were disqualified from race 13 after a protest from the French team, putting Peters and Fitzgerald into an unbeatable position at the top of the leaderboard. Germán Billoch and Gastón Cheb Terrab of Argentina lie in third place overall and will be looking to challenge for the silver medal tomorrow.

The French SL 16 sailors Valentin and Romain Bellet are also celebrating overall victory in the multihull SL16 class although refused to celebrate a day early and are concentrating on a good position tomorrow in the last race of the series. Romain Bellet, just 15 years old and the younger of the two brothers, said, “I still want to gain points for the Volvo Trophy. We don’t feel we have totally won until we go for the collective achievement tomorrow.”

The South Africans Matthew Whitehead and Micheal Ovenstone were covering the French all day in true match racing style and won their first race putting two boats in-between them and the French. But the French pair managed to get away from them on the last downwind leg of second race leaving them in seventh and the Bellet brothers in first. Romain Bellet explained, “Going downwind we gybed. The South Africans did not follow – they should have!” Whitehead and Ovenstone now have a four point lead over the nearest rivals James Ellis and Andrew Glover of Great Britain with Simon Michaelsen and Jacob Dannefer of Denmark a further four points behind.

Michalis Malekkides won a second gold medal for Cyprus in the boy’s windsurfer fleet. After a tough day yesterday, he was back to best in today’s stronger winds. “The conditions here were like Cyprus, especially the first and the second day when it was windy. They’re the conditions I know very well and that helped me,” said Malekkides, who at just 16 years old, said his aim now is to defend his title at next year’s Youth Worlds in Buzios, Brazil.

Malekkides won race 10, but with his close rival and training partner Thiseas Kampas (GRE) in third, the pair were only separated by five points in the overall standings. The decisive action came in race 11, when Malekkides took a gamble out to the left of the first downwind, caught a gust and accelerated from six to second. He maintained that position across the finishing line and the title was his as Kampas struggled across the line in 14th. Despite that finish, Kampas hold on to second overall, although Germany’s Oliver-Tom Schliemann is just six points further back.

Tomorrow is the final day of the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, the 38th edition of the event. One race is scheduled for each event, and although the gold medal winners have already been decided, there are still plenty of podium positions up for grabs.

In the battle for the Volvo Trophy, Great Britain current lies on 336 points, with the last year’s winners Australia climbing up to tie for second place with New Zealand on 304 points. As the GBR 29er crews have already secured at least 12 points in race 12, Great Britain holds on unbeatable lead and tomorrow will lift the Volvo Trophy tomorrow for the third time. France is fourth in the national standings, just behind Australia and New Zealand, with the host nation Denmark in fifth, just ahead of hosts of next year’s championship, Brazil.

Racing is scheduled to start tomorrow at 11:00 and will be followed by the Closing Ceremony.

For full results go to: http://www.youthworlds2008.org/Results.aspx

The South African positions:

1. Rudi McNeill - Laser, 19th after eleven races
2. Claire Walker - Laser, 38th after eleven races
3. Taariq Jacobs and Neil Malan - 29'er, 7th after fourteen races
4. Mathew Whitehead and Michael Ovenstone - Sirena SL16, 2nd after eleven races.

It looks as though Mathew and Michael are the South African Sailors going into the last day of racing under the most pressure as the third placed team of James Ellis and Andrew Glover from Great Britain are four points adrift of RSA. Athough with only one race scheduled, all should be well in the camp of biltong!

South Africa's Matthew Whitehead and Michael Ovenstone, SL16 Multihull class, on the 4th racing day of this years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.
Photo credit: onEdition

www.Sail-Search.com: Århus, Denmark – 16 July, 2008 – The top five places in the 29er boys, RS:X girls, Laser Radials and the SL16 are getting tighter with only two days left of the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships. The breeze was lighter on the Bay of Århus allowing for more of the sailors to excel as the conditions eased for them. The race committee set three races for each class today to catch up on those lost on the first day.

The British girls still rule the 29er class as Frances Peters and Claire Lasko posted a 2, 1 and 3 on the fourth day of racing of the Championships. The Swedish team of Sara Engström and Hanna Dahlborg didn’t have a great day on the water with a 5, 5, 4 which made them drop down to fourth from third. Engström commented after racing, “We were not happy with today but at least we are sailing more consistently now which is good. With only two more days it will be very close for all of us at the top.” The Australians Hannah Natrass and Michelle Muller, bronze medallists last year, moved into third with a two firsts and a ninth which they dropped as the second discard comes into play.

In the boy’s fleet the American’s Judge Ryan and Hans Henken had a great day with a 1, 2, 3 bringing them to the top of the pile. Henken explained how they started slow but placed themselves well in the lighter breeze. “We played the shifts downwind well and getting top three positions today was a great achievement.” James Peters and Edward Fitzgerald (GBR) where pushed down to second but are only a point behind the leaders. Australians Bryon White and Rhys Mara are now in third on 37 points, 14 points behind, with Germán Billoch and Gastón Cheb Terrab of Argentina six points behind them.

France dominates the SL16 fleet for a second day with brothers Valentin and Romain Bellet winning two races and scoring a third in the last of the day. The South Africans Matthew Whitehead and Michael Ovenstone are still in second but posted a 7, 2 and a 9. “We had a bad day today and it didn’t help it was a very long day. The Singapore and New Zealand guys are back on form, which is good to see,” said Ovenstone. The third placed GBR team of James Ellis and Andrew Glover are only two points ahead of the Danes Simon Michael and Jacob Dannefer and just one point behind the South Africans. With three races left in the series there is a lot to win and lose.

With the wind shifting in direction and speed throughout the day, consistency was key to success in the windsurfer fleets as both the light and heavy wind specialists had a chance to shine. Thiseas Kampas of Greece was the standout performer in the Boy’s RS:X fleet, closing the gap on the overall leader - also his good friend and training partner - Michalis Malekkides of Cyprus to just three points. Great final runs helped Kampas make up vital places to score second and third positions in races 7 and 8 before he sacrificed first place in the day’s final race to force Malekkides to the wrong side of the course. The strategy worked as the Cypriot posted an 11th place, his worst score of the regatta, whilst Kampas again finished strongly take fourth place. Kampas said his performance today, particularly his strong finishes, were principally down to a more confident approach, “I didn’t have it [confidence] the days before because I was so nervous, because of the wind I was saying oh no, it’s high winds again. But today I said to myself, ‘okay I’m here to fight, to fight until the end’ and that’s what I did.”

Laura Linares (ITA) had another stellar day in the girl’s RS:X fleet, with a second place followed by her fifth and sixth bullets of the regatta. With just three races remaining and no score worse than a fifth the Italian looks well on the way to a third consecutive Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship title. Maja Dziarnowska (POL) and Patricia Freitas (BRA) continue to battle it out behind the leader, with just two points separating them in second and third place respectively.

Pavlos Kontides (CYP) had a rare blip today with a fifth in race 8, but sandwiched between a bullet and a second place it did nothing to affect his dominant position at the top of the Laser standings. Luke Lawrence tightened his grip in second place with a win the day’s final race, whilst Denmark’s Thorbjoern Schierup remains in third. Schierup said back in the dinghy park, “I've mixed feelings about today. The gap up to second has opened up, but at the same time I’m more isolated in third. But I had by far preferred to have the chance to fight my way up the list instead of defending the third spot.”

Like Kontides, Australia’s Gabrielle King is looking odds on to defend the title she won last year in Kingston. She added a third bullet to her scoreline and maintained her run of all top-five finishes to extend her overall lead in the Laser Radial fleet. Susana Romero of Spain admitted she still hasn’t got to grips with the changeable conditions in the Bay but nevertheless won the day’s final race to propel herself up the leaderboard. The young Spaniard is aiming for a confidence boosting performance in Denmark before heading to Qingdao, China where she will represent Spain at the Olympic Games.

Tomorrow two races (three for the 29ers) are scheduled for each event, starting at 12:00 local time. With just one race remaining for each fleet on the final day of the championship on Friday, victory is within grasp for some of the fleet leaders setting the scene for an exciting penultimate day in Århus.

For full results go to: http://www.youthworlds2008.org/Results.aspx

The South African positions:

1. Rudi McNeill - Laser, 19th after nine races (climbed 2 places)
2. Claire Walker - Laser, 38th after nine races (dropped 2 places).
3. Taariq Jacobs and Neil Malan - 29'er, 7th after ten races (climbed 2 places)
4. Mathew Whitehead and Michael Ovenstone - Sirena SL16, 2nd after nine races.

www.Sail-Search.com: Århus, Denmark - Great Britain is leading a close four-country battle for the Volvo Trophy, awarded to the best-performing nation at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.

The young British sailors can enjoy the lay day in Århus, Denmark today, after a highly successful start to the championship which puts them 17 points clear at the top of the Volvo Trophy standings. New Zealand follow the Brits in second place, whilst the defending champion Australia lie third, just ahead of the host nation Denmark. France, nine-time winners of the Volvo Trophy, complete the top five, but has a lot of ground to make up with a 45-point gap separating them from the British team.

The national battle at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship is as fiercely fought as any of the seven individual titles and more than any other event exemplifies the unique spirit of the championship. The standings are calculated based on a nation’s top four crews after each race is completed across all the fleets, meaning a sailor out of medal contention can still have a massive impact on their team’s performance with a strong finish.

The British success so far has been spearheaded by the two 29er teams who both hold the overall lead, but mixed performances from them in races seven and eight (which the other fleets are yet to complete) could see the standings tighten by the end of tomorrow. Following the lay day, there’s also a new factor added into the equation: pressure. With just three days of racing remaining, the finishing line is drawing closer and any mistakes begin to prove more and more costly.

Amongst the five leading teams, only Denmark has never won the Volvo Trophy before. Great Britain’s two wins came back in 1995 and 1996 with the team of ‘ferrets’ coached by Jim Saltonstall, many of whom went on to win medals at the Sydney and Athens Olympic Games. New Zealand has also won the trophy twice before (1992 and 1994), whilst Australia have won three times (in 1993 and 2003 as well as last year).

Following the lay day, racing resumes in Århus, on the 16th of July at 12:00 local time. Two races (three for the 29er fleets) are scheduled for each event on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, the final day of the Championship, just one race will be held in each event to decide the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Champions and the winners of the Volvo Trophy.

Volvo Trophy Standings (after six races)

1. Great Britain – 187 points
2. New Zealand – 170 points
3. Australia – 163 points
4. Denmark – 160 points
5. France – 142 points
6. Brazil – 117 points
7. Cyprus – 112 points
8. USA – 100 points
9. Italy – 97 points
10. Greece – 92 points

www.Sail-Search.com: Århus, Denmark – 14 July, 2008 – France moved to the top in the multihull fleet whilst the other leaders remain unchanged as the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship hit the halfway stage.

As of today all competitors at the event have sailed at least six races allowing them to discard their worst score to date. The discard and the shifty winds on the course meant that some sailors shone whilst others fell and rose in the standings.

In the SL16 multihull class the South Africans, Matthew Whitehead and Michael Ovenstone were overtaken by the French brothers, Valentin and Romain Bellet when they discarded their DNF position on day one (started but did not finish the race). The French team were very happy with their rise to the top being as it is Bastille Day, in France.

The Danish team of Simon Michaelsen and Jacob Dannefer were also pleased with their performance despite being pushed into third place. Michealsen explained how they now will concentrate all their effort on the South Africans, French and Brits. “The top four boats are extending their lead from the rest of the fleet so we are going to focus on them after the lay day. We had great downwind speed today, but the French guys are so quick they just got us in the end on the second race.”

Two-time Youth Worlds gold medallist Laura Linares of Italy, competing in the RS:X Windsurfer class at this years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.
Photo credit: David Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race/onEdition

Laura Linares (ITA) in the Girl’s RS:X class posted a fifth today in her second race which was unusual for her but this was soon discarded meaning she remained in top spot. Polish windsurfer Maja Dziarnowska managed to keep her second place overall due to her bullet in the second race. ”I am so happy with my performance because I was in front of Laura and some other really great girls. I think I was fast but I think I was lucky as it was so gusty and shifty today out there.”

Brazilian Patricia Freitas, who will be going to the 2008 Olympics Games, was frustrated with her performance when she returned, despite being third overall at the halfway mark of the event. “It should have been a better day. I was leading on the second race at every mark but then Maja passed me on the very last downwind leg!”

Israel’s Ron Asulin was the star of the day in the Boy’s RS:X, revelling in the flatter seas and westerly breeze coming off the beach, conditions he compared to those back home in Eilat. After winning the silver medal in Kingston last year, Asulin admitted he came to Århus with his sights set firmly on the title, but found himself a little off the pace in early races. After fourth and first place in today’s two races he climbs up to fourth overall and back in touch with the leaders although Cypriot Malekkides is still looking formidable at the front of the fleet. Malekkides posted scores of 2 and 5 today to take a seven-point advantage over second place Thiseas Kampas (GRE) into the lay day. German windsurfer Oliver-Tom Schliemann makes up the top four in third place overall.

Three races in the 29er fleet saw the boy’s fleet get as tight as it can get at the top with the British, American and Australian teams on equal points with 27 points. American’s Judge Ryan and Hans Henken told of the difficult conditions out on their race course. “We had a shaky start, but managed to get it back together for the next two,” said Henken. “The water was flatter today but the shifts were hard to predict. If you got them right you were top ten but if you were wrong then you would be at the back in no time.”

Frances Peters and Claire Lasko, representing Britain in the girls 29er dinghy class, at this years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.
Photo credit: David Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race/onEdition

Again it was the Brits Frances Peters and Claire Lasko who led the girl’s 29er fleet with 2, 4, 2 scores. The Dutch team of Annemiek Bekkering and Jeske Kisters jump up to second overall, taking advantage of a capsize by Peters and Lasko to win race seven, although fortunes were reserved in race eight with the Brits coming in second as the Dutch girls went for a swim. The consistent Sara Engström and Hanna Dahlborg (SWE) remain third overall.

It turned out to be a perfect day for Gabrielle King (AUS), with the defending champion in the Laser Radial scoring two bullets to increase her overall lead to six points. New Zealand’s Cushla Hume-Merry had her best day yet with 3, 4 scores lifting her up into second overall, just ahead of Denmark’s Cathrine Sofie Hall.

Pavlos Kontides (CYP) carries on his domination of the fleet in the Laser repeating King’s performance in the girl’s fleet with two first places. American Luke Lawrence in second and Danish sailor Thorbjørn Schierup in third will have a hard time to catch him now with only five points overall.

Defending champion Pavlos Kontides of Cyprus, who will be representing his country at the 2008 Olympic Games, wins the first race of the boys Laser class at this years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.
Photo credit: David Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race/onEdition

The competitors have a well deserved rest day tomorrow with a tour of the Old Town of Århus planned for them. Racing continues on Wednesday 16 July, with two races for all classes other than the 29er boys and girls fleets who have three races scheduled.

For full results go to: http://www.youthworlds2008.org/Results.aspx

The South African positions:

1. Rudi McNeill - Laser, 21st after six races (climbed 1 place)
2. Claire Walker - Laser, 36th after six races.
3. Taariq Jacobs and Neil Malan - 29'er, 9th after five races (climbed 1 place)
4. Mathew Whitehead and Michael Ovenstone - Sirena SL16, 2nd after six races (dropped 1 place).

This report from Colin Whithead, South Africa Team Manager:

The time seems to fly past so quickly here – sunset at 10:30pm and sunrise at 4:15am, long days on the water watching our boys and girl do battle.

Once again the wind picked up to 15 - 18 knots more than the predicted 10 - 15 knots and Matt and Michael brought home some pleasing results with a 1st and 5th Place.

The conditions were gusty and variable in direction so quite tricky.

Claire battled again with the strong wind and short chop and did not have a good day in the office but she certainly persevered and kept the flag flying high.

Rudi claimed his place on the course with a 15th and 28th and only one incident which ended in protest, hearing at 7 tonight, Belgian laser sailor tacked in his water and there was contact, and subsequent boat damage. THE PROTEST WON BY RUDI – the report delayed specially to get the result.

Neil and Taariq had a good day getting in 3 races with 4th, 9th and 12th – leaving them in 9th place overall. – Good job guys.

The team camaraderie is great and everyone is enjoying the experience of this event, tonight was Viking night with boat races after dinner – all the teams had to produce a boat manufactured from a bag of bits given out by the organizers and was to be sailed down a track of water by blowing into the sails. We progressed to the semi-finals but were knocked out by NZL. GREAT FUN HAD BY ALL.

Tuesday is a lay day – so no racing, our team will chill out and prepare themselves for the balance of the regatta.

Cheers from the team

Colin / David

wwww.Sail-Search.com: This report from the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Århus, Denmark by SA Team Manager, Colin Whitehead:

Day two brought much more wind that was expected much to Matt and Michaels delight but not to Claire's liking. The swell was up which made for some great surfing conditions in all the fleets.

Claire hung in again without capsizing and produced similar results to yesterday, tough conditions for her weight.

Rudi had a great start to the day with a 13th place coming from a well positioned start. The wind across the laser course was pretty steady at 15-18 knots south with occasional shift to the right at 20 knots.

On the 29er and Multihull course it was all on again with steady 15 to 18 knot breeze and occasional switches, unfortunately I had no visual on the course and was being fed information from back home via sms while Tracy tracked the race on www.sportcasting.org/home/ - isn't technology great.

Taariq and Neil had a great day with some awesome surfing and close calls – producing excellent results 8, 5, 4 – going faster and faster.

Matt and Michael were firing on all cylinders and came out of the starting blocks like rockets, 1st race they led the whole race and produced a win for SA and on the 2nd were chasing GBR for the whole race and finished 2nd.

The boys and girl of South Africa did "good" today and everyone is having a great time, wish I was 16 again!!!!

The event is well organized and it is great to have our youngsters getting the valuable experience at such a high quality and highly contested event.

www.Sail-Search.com: Århus, Denmark – 13 July, 2008 – There was an international feel to day two of racing at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Århus, Denmark where sailors from Europe, Oceania and Africa occupy the leaderboard top spots.

The British team lead the charge in the 29er with two strong performances in both the girls and boys fleets, while the Cyprian sailors carried on dominating in the Laser and Boy’s RS:X. The strong winds returned to the Bay of Århus today keeping the sailors working hard on the second day of the event.

There was a change at the top of the leaderboard in the SL16 multihull fleet with the ISAF Athlete Participation Programme (APP) sailors from South Africa taking the top spot from the Danish team. Matthew Whitehead and Micheal Ovenstone who were in fourth after the first day found their form on the water with a first and second. Whitehead commented, “It was quite breezy out there on the water with huge waves which is what we like to sail in. We overstood one mark and came screaming in, nearly taking a few boats out! We had a brilliant day.”

South Africa's Matthew Whitehead and Michael Ovenstone competing in the SL 16 Open Multihull class at this years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship. Lying in First place after four races.
Photo Credit: David Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race/onEdition

These sailors are amongst the 29 APP sailors who are helped each year to compete by ISAF and the programme. They get financial backing and an internationally renowned coach in the form of Jim Saltonstall (World Youth Sailing Trust coach) to help them throughout the week.

Maja Knezevic (SRB ) in the Laser Radial class is another young sailor who has been helped by the APP scheme to represent her country. It is the first time Serbia has competed at the Youth Worlds and she is very proud to be here. “I am loving my time here. Jim is a really great coach and looks after us all, as well as some of the other sailors who need extra help. I just want to do as well as I can,” said Knezevic.

The breezy conditions made for plenty more excitement on the 29er course and following three races in both boy’s and girl’s fleet the British and Australian teams continue to dominate the overall standings. James Peters and Ed Fitzgerald (GBR) won the opening two races in boy’s fleet and although they dropped to tenth in race five after hitting a wave and pitch polling on the final run, they hold the overall lead. Byron White and Rhys Mara (AUS) are just three points behind in second, whilst Judge Ryan and Hans Henken (USA) climb five places to third overall and were the standout performers with 2, 3, 1 scores today.

Great Britain also leads the Girl’s 29er fleet, with Frances Peters, James’s older sister, and Claire Lasko posting first, second and third place finishes today. After five top-three finishes the pair have built a six-point cushion at the front but are not getting carried away yet. “I am really pleased to get consistent results this early in the competition but we have a long way to go so we have to keep it up. We have to take each day as it comes,” said Peters. It was also a good day for the Dutch crew of Annemiek Bekkering and Jeske Kisters, who scored a sixth and two bullets to move up six places to fourth overall.

The 29er fleets had the benefit of a video debrief from Jim Saltonstall after yesterday’s racing and it certainly showed in the improved performance of some of the teams today. The Brazilian Girl’s 29er duo of Martine Grael and Daniela Adler climbed four places up the overall leaderboard to seventh after scores of 3, 4, 5 today. “We’ve been sailing 29ers for three months and today was only the fourth day of strong winds in our lives. But we’re doing well so we’re really happy about it,” said Adler. It is no surprise the team are such quick learners when you consider their sailing backgrounds; Martine is the daughter of Volvo Ocean Race skipper and five-time Olympic medallist Torben Grael whilst Daniela’s uncle is Daniel Adler, also an Olympic medallist. The next generation are also clearly aware of the family traditions.

In the Laser Radial class the Australian defending champion now leads the pack with a consistent top five positions as the Canadian sailor Isabelle Bertold falls to second only two points behind. The Finnish competitor, Heidi Tenkanen posted a first and a fifth to raise her from sixth to third overall.

Pavlos Kontides (CYP) carries on leading the boy’s Laser fleet with another two first places, making it look very easy out on the water in the big breeze. American Luke Lawrence also showed consistency with two second places lifting him to second place overall and pushing local Århus sailor, Thorbjorn Schierup into third.

The top three places in the Boy’s RS:X fleet have remained the same with the Cypriot windsurfer, Michalis Malekkides posting a first and fourth. This is his second Youth Worlds and he was looking for a top six place before he came but now thinks he can do better. “I worked a lot over the year with my coach to improve on my strength. Especially when it’s windy I think I’m very good and in the light wind I do well. I think that the work is paying off now,” said Malekkides.

Laura Linares carries on leading the girl’s fleet with a second and first place with Poland’s Maja Dziarnowska and Greece’s Anastasia Davrou swapping places below her.

Follow all the action from Århus including news, results, features and more on the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship website www.youthworlds2008.org and on the ISAF Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship microsite www.sailing.org/youthworlds.

For full results go to: http://www.youthworlds2008.org/Results.aspx

South Africa's Matthew Whitehead and Michael Ovenstone competing in the SL 16 Open Multihull class at this years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship. Lying in First place after four races.
Photo Credit: David Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race/onEdition

The South African positions:

1. Rudi McNeill - Laser, 22nd after four races (climbed 3 places)
2. Claire Walker - Laser, 36th after four races.
3. Taariq Jacobs and Neil Malan - 29'er, 10th after five races (climbed 10 places)
4. Mathew Whitehead and Michael Ovenstone - Sirena SL16, 1st after four races (climbed 3 places).

www.Sail-Search.com: Århus, Denmark – 12 July, 2008 - The first day of the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship saw lots of action on the water, with capsizes and breakages as the rain clouds passed over the Bay of Århus.

“Just awesome”, was how Australian 29er helm Hannah Nattrass summarized today’s conditions, but that was not a sentiment shared by everyone in Århus as squalls brought gusts of wind up to 30 knots giving the competitors hard conditions to start the event in. Racing began at 12:00 with the sun shining and a southerly breeze of around 11 knots, but as the day progressed the forecast rain showers hit and the wind increased throughout the afternoon. Two races were finished by all but the SL16 class, before the conditions deteriorated and the fleets were sent in.

In the RS:X girls fleet Laura Linares (ITA), the two-time Youth gold medallist had a faultless day with two first places and even managed to overtake a few of the boy windsurfers who had started before her. “It was quite tiring and cold out there today, but I am pleased with my results,” she commented. “The wind was quite shifty where we were, from 15 -18 knots with choppy waters.”

The Cypriot windsurfer, Michalis Malekkides mirrored Linares’ performance with two first places in the boy’s fleet, with Thiseas Kampas from Greece close in second place.

It was a good first day for another Cypriot, Pavlos Kontides, the defending champion in the Laser class who got his series underway in style by leading the first race from start to finish. However, in the second race he was left at the back of the fleet after hitting the pin end at the start and doing penalty turns, but sailed through the fleet to recover to second place behind Denmark’s Thorbjørn Schierup.

For Kontides, as well as this being his fifth and final year at the Youth Worlds, it is also his last event before he travels to Qingdao to represent Cyprus at the 2008 Olympic Games. Despite his mistake in race 2, Kontides was more than happy with his performance today. “I have had a great day,” he said. “This event is run just like the Olympics you don’t have to worry about anything other than sailing as everything is sorted for you.”

In the Laser Radial class, the 2007 champion also started well with Gabrielle King (AUS) lying second overall to Isabella Bertold of Canada. Denmark’s Cathrine Sofie Hall is third.

In the multihull event, contested in the SL16 class for the first time, the competitors had a lot to do to keep their boats upright and only managed to get one race in, won by French brothers Valentin and Romain Bellet. Crew Romain explained how he felt after the action of the day. “We had a good first race but the second the fleet could not finish. The wind was steady for us but there was a lot of chop. The Danish and English team are our biggest competitors but the Singapore team are pretty good too.” The SL 16 class is the only open event at the regatta, with boys and girls competing in the same fleet.

The breeze and the waves made for exciting but testing conditions in the two 29er fleets. The British pair of Frances Peters and Claire Lasko lead the girls fleet, just ahead of Australia’s Hannah Nattrass and Michelle Muller.

“Communication was the big thing for us,” said Nattrass following her team’s fourth and first place finishes today. “There were a lot of rain squalls and clouds, so we had to make sure we were always on the look out.”

Nattrass and Muller won a bronze medal in 2007 and the Aussie helm is pretty clear on her ambitions for this year, “Shell [crew Michelle Muller] and I are both here for one reason. I’m sure that’s why everyone else is here. They’re not here to make up the numbers. They’re here to stand on the podium at the end!”

The Australian pairing went one better in the Boy’s 29er fleet, with Byron White and Rhys Mara (AUS) leading overall after two second place finishes today. They are closely followed by the Argentinean team of Germán Billoch and Gastón Cheb Terrab and James Peters and Edward Fitzgerald of Great Britain.

Yesterday saw the competitors’ parade through the city proudly waving their country flags following a swing marching band to the Town Hall, where they were officially welcomed to Denmark. The Opening Ceremony was a Royal affair with the HRH Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark greeting the teams, volunteers and Organizing Committee to the city of Århus. As a keen sailor himself and the Patron of the event he wished the competitors good luck and said, “I wish you have a successful and memorable stay in Århus. I hope you compete well and engage in lifelong friendships with sailors from all over the world. Sail fast!” Following the traditional mixing of the waters ceremony, were a representative from each nation adds waters from their local sailing venue to the mixing bowl, ISAF President Göran Petersson officially opened this year’s championship. Other dignitaries at the ceremony were Århus Mayor Nicolai Wammen and Knut Frostad, CEO of Volvo Ocean Race.

Knut Frostad commented, “Volvo is very proud to be sponsoring such an important event for youth sailors of the world. Many competitors in the Volvo Ocean Race have competed in this event and other youth championships, this shows us how important these events are and how some of you sailors will grow up to be the skippers and crew in the Volvo Ocean Race.”

Racing continues in Århus tomorrow, with the forecast for less intense wind conditions than today, although the rain showers look set to continue. The first races are scheduled for a 12:00 start.

For full results go to: http://www.youthworlds2008.org/Results.aspx

Simon Michaelson and Jacob Dannefer of Denmark are lying in first position after two races, sailing an SL16 Multihull at this years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.
Photo credit: David Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race/onEdition

This report from South African Sailing Team Manager, Colin Whitehead:

Well the first day was started with big winds and very choppy water. Early on the wind was southerly 15 knots which built to around 25 knots on the SL 16 and 29'er courses and even stronger on the laser course up to 28 knots.

Rudi had a tough day but managed to hold onto two 24ths, Claire battled in the strong wind and waves and came in 37 and 32 but to her credit she did not capsize in the strong winds.

Taariq and Neil unfortunately were too keen to get away in the first race and ended with an OCS. Their second race there was a single recall which they thought was them and returned to the line but they were not over, however they recovered to 14th which was a tough fight.

Matt and Michael had a great day on the SL with a 5th and 4th place

The team, has high spirits and are looking forward to today's sailing, winds are predicted to be lighter today at around 10 to 15 knots.

The South African positions:

1. Rudi McNeill - Laser, 25th after two races
2. Claire Walker - Laser
3. Taariq Jacobs and Neil Malan - 29'er, 20th after two races
4. Mathew Whitehead and Michael Ovenstone - Sirena SL16, 4th after two races.