Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship

The final day of racing at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship concluded with Canadian sailors in top spots and a best-ever Canadian team finish.

“We are very proud of the team,” said Fiona Kidd, president of the Canadian Yachting Association. “The athletes and coaches have worked hard and the Canadian sailors were able to handle the pressure of being the host country. Expectations were high and they definitely exceeded them.”

New Zealand wins the Volvo Trophy, which is based on team results across all racing classes. Canada finished seventh overall, a best-ever finish.

The final race day got off to a slow start with delays in all classes due to light winds. All fleets waited ashore before being sent out on the water. Unfortunately, the Mistrals and the 29ers were unable to race in the uneven breeze, while one final race was completed in the Laser and Byte classes.

Final standings in each of the classes for the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship are:

World Youth Champion in Girls Byte is Canada’s Jennifer Spalding. Karin Soderstrom of Sweden is second, while Paige Railey of the United States is third.

“We had decent wind today,” said Jennifer Spalding. “I didn’t know what to expect coming in to the races. I’m very happy with the result.”

In Boys Laser, Andrew Campbell of the United States wins gold, with Croatia’s Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic taking silver, and Tobias Schadewaldt of Germany, bronze. Canada’s Mike Leigh continued to improve his performance through the week finishing in fourth spot.

World Youth Champions of the Girls 29er class are Pippa Wilson and Jenny Marks of Great Britain, with Australia’s Elise Rechichi and Rashele Martin in second and New Zealand’s Rachel O’Brien and Kelly Riechelmann in third. Canada’s team of Maddy Purves-Smith and Cassidy Richardson finished in ninth spot.

“This is my last year so this mean a lot,” said Jenny Marks. “We’re so happy with the outcome.”

The gold medal was awarded to Australia’s Nathan Outteridge and Ayden Menzies in the Boys 29er class. New Zealand’s team of Geoff Woolley and Mark Overington took silver, just two points behind. France’s Guillavme Vigna and Thibaut Gatti finished with a bronze.

In the Boys Mistral class standings, New Zealand’s Thomas Ashley is the World Youth Champion, Byron Kokkalanis of Greece, takes silver, and Switzerland’s Jan Schenck, bronze. Mike Hayes of Canada took 11th place over-all.

In Girls Mistral, Poland’s Zofia Klepacka wins gold, Blanca Manchon of Spain and Wai Man Chan of Hong Kong take silver and bronze respectively. Lisa McKenzie of Canada finished in 10th place.

Teams will celebrate the official outcome tonight at the Closing Ceremonies at 6 p.m. at the Lunenburg Yacht Club.

The Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship has been a great success for both the Canadian sailors and the Town of Lunenburg. “This is a brilliant outcome for Jennifer Spalding of Vancouver,” said Paul Henderson, president, International Sailing Federation (ISAF). “Lunenburg has done a great job with the event, just spectacular.”