David Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race
Sixty nations will be represented on the Bay of Århus, Denmark when over 250 young sailors battle across seven events for the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.
The championship provides not just the drama of intense, high-level international competition, but also a glimpse at the next generation of sailing stars.
After months of intense preparation, competitors can put behind them thoughts of training and qualification, school and exams, and focus solely on the world’s premier youth sailing event as well as the Volvo Trophy, which is awarded to the top-performing nation.
The opening races of the championship start on 12 July. The competition continues over the following six days with the final races to decide the 2008 titles on Friday 18 July. Racing is run to the highest international standards, with an International Jury chaired by ISAF International Judge Bill O’Hara ensuring fair play, and three International race officers working alongside the officials on the water.
Event director Thomas Capitani Nielsen said: “We are looking forward to starting. Right now a team of 250 volunteers are working day and night to prepare the event. This includes the assembly of 200 dinghies and boards and preparing the dinghy park.
“Many teams have already arrived, Singapore, USA, Canada and 10 others are already training on the Bay of Århus, the weather is great, sunny and 27 degrees. Next week the temperature will drop and we expect more wind, so we are confident that we will host a successful event.”
Ahead of the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition in Qingdao this August, the stature of the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship has never been higher. Since the inaugural championship, where 16 nations competed at Angelholm, Sweden in 1971, the event has grown and throughout its 38-year history, has proved a breeding ground for some of the top stars of the sailing world.
Over the past 10 years the championship has visited Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and North America, averaging well over 40 nations represented at each venue. The introduction of the ISAF Athlete Participation Programme in 2003 has boosted national participation even further, with an average of 55 nations competing over the last five championships, whilst next year, Buzios, Brazil will be the first South American country to host the Youth Worlds.
The roll call of Youth World medallists is equally impressive: whether it is three-time America’s Cup winner Russell Coutts (NZL); numerous Olympic stars including multiple medallists Ben Ainslie (GBR), Robert Scheidt (BRA) and Alessandra Sensini (ITA); or offshore experts like Volvo Ocean Race winner Richard Clarke (CAN) – the championship has them all.
Seven titles are up for grabs in the following events:
Boy’s One Person Dinghy – Laser Girl’s One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial Boy’s Two Person Dinghy – 29er Girl’s Two Person Dinghy – 29er Boy’s Windsurfer – Neil Pryde RS:X with 8.5m2 sail & 60cm fin Girl’s Windsurfer – Neil Pryde RS:X with 8.5m2 sail & 60cm fin Open Multihull – SL 16
For more information visit: www.youthworlds2008.org.
You can watch hours of race video at www.VolvoOceanRace.tv, the official Race TV channel for free!