RYA Volvo Team GBR Announced For ISAF Youth Worlds

With nine race wins and four second place finishes in the Spitfire class Rupert White and Nicola Boniface will compete in the SL16 class in Zadar, Croatia. This will be Boniface's third consecutive ISAF Youth Worlds and after finishing fifth in Buzios, Brazil in 2009 in the Hobie Cat 16 and fourth in Istanbul, Turkey in 2010 with Adam Butler in the SL16, Boniface will use her experience to push for her first podium finish.

"It's very exciting to be going back to the ISAF Youth Worlds and hopefully this will be my third time lucky," said Boniface.

"It's the top Youth event and it always feels different as there are more classes there which make it a lot more enjoyable."

In the 29er Great Britain will once again be represented by Henry Lloyd Williams and Samuel Batten. The British youngsters narrowly missed out on a medal in Turkey, finishing one point behind America's Antoine Screve and James Moody.

Batten said, "We didn't sail great at last year's event so this year we are hoping to do better and would love to come back with a medal. The event is run a lot more like the Olympic Games than any other sailing event we do. It is a lot more formal and a lot more competitive which we are both looking forward to."

Attending the prestigious event in the RS:X windsurfing class for the second year running, Sam Sills, will look to build on his experience from the 2010 event. "It's great to be selected again for Team GBR. Last year I did okay but I lacked international experience, I feel more confident this year and am aiming for a good steady performance."

Joining Sills on the RS:X windsurfer is Jade Rogers, who will compete for the first time in the girls' fleet.

"I'm over the moon to have been selected and it is a great achievement. Its going to be the biggest sailing event I have ever raced in and will be great to sail against international competitors," said Rogers.

In the two person dinghy class for both boys and girls at the event, 420 crews Craig Dibb and Charlie Cox and Jess Lavery and Georgie Mothersele will make up RYA Volvo Team GBR's contenders.

Dibb and Cox have had a very impressive and positive run of results in the 420 European and Junior Selector Series which would have been a contributing factor to their championship title. With confidence high and their partnership blossoming, the duo will be valued members of the team.

420 sailors Lavery and Mothersele will be making their Youth Worlds debut. Lavery commented, "We are delighted to have been selected for Team GBR and are really looking forward to competing in our first Youth World Championships."

In the single handed categories, Laser Radial sailors Cameron Douglas and Rheanna Pavey will be doing battle for the team in Croatia this summer.

Douglas said, "The ISAF Worlds is a really high profile event, with sailors competing from all over the world so the pressure will defiantly be on.

"Hopefully the ISAF Youth Worlds will be the start of my professional sailing career and one day I would love to compete at the Olympic Games."

Pavey stayed focused and consistent throughout the week fighting off tough competition from the UK's top Radial sailors to land her RYA Volvo Youth Nationals title and her place on the 2011 RYA Volvo Team GBR. The 17-year-old has asserted her dominance throughout the season picking up some impressive results against some tough competition.

For more information and final results from the 2011 RYA Volvo Youth National Championships, or to view the event daily vodcast please visit www.ryaracingevents.org.uk

RYA Volvo Team GBR squad for 2011, ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships, Zadar, Croatia (7-16 July 2011):

420:
Boys: Craig Dibb and Charlie Cox
Girls: Jess Lavery and Georgie Mothersele
29er:
Henry Lloyd-Williams and Sam Batten
RS:X:
Boys: Sam Sills
Girls: Jade Rogers
Laser Radial:
Boys: Cameron Douglas
Girls: Rheanna Pavey
SL16:
Rupert White and Nicola Boniface

2011 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship

The 2011 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship will take place in Zadar, Croatia from 7-16 July 2011.

The ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship is open to competitors aged under 19 in the year of the championship (i.e. for Croatia, under 19 on 31 December 2011) in the events and equipment listed below (all supplied), the Youth Worlds occupies a unique place in the sailing calendar. Simply getting to the championship is a major achievement for most as entry is limited to one boat per nation, per event, meaning sailors first having to win through their national qualification series.