VIDEO - Antiguan ENP clinic opens door for the Americas

The ISAF Youth Worlds Emerging Nations Program has opened the door for 28 nations to sail at the 2015 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships set to be held from 27 December to 3 January 2016 in Langkawi, Malaysia.

In total, 105 sailors and 48 coaches from 38 nations participated in the ENP, sailing in the Laser Radial, 420 and 29er and the success of the clinic has enabled the Youth Worlds to attract sailors from 80 countries, surpassing last year’s record of 67.

Antigua hosted the Americas clinic earlier on this year with 20 sailors and 11 coaches from 11 nations being led by ISAF Nominated Experts over seven days.

Thanks to the Emerging Nations Program sailors from Antigua, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Ecuador, US Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos and Trinidad and Tobago have received an ENP Scholarship that will give them the funding and support they need for travelling and entering the event.

World Sailing TV were in Antigua to gain further insight, learn from the coaches and speak to the sailors. Check out the video below for more:

What they said:

Pablo Bertrain, Cayman Islands sailor, “I started sailing because my school ran it as a programme and I just wanted to give it a try and I loved it when I started.  I just love sailing because being out on the water it relaxes your mind and you can just take your focus off things that are happening on land, leave it behind and you’re just out on the water.  I love the ocean and I’m just passionate about it.”

Katelyn Woodman, British Virgin Islands coach, “It’s all about professional development and taking clinics like this to enhance what you’re already doing.  As we all know in sailing there, it’s lifelong learning.  You’re never going to be faced with the same wind you’re never going to be faced with the same gust at the same moments, the same weather, the same competition, it’s always changing and I find that as you’re coaching you not only learn from clinics like this but you’re learning from sailors, so I’m hoping that I can learn a little bit more and get that racing mind-set back in to help bring up beginners in the way they should so that they become good racers.”

Scott Gittens, Barbadian sailor, “The programme has definitely improved my sailing significantly, especially my starts.  At home we have a smaller fleet so the bigger fleet really helps with the starts.  I’ve definitely improved a lot on my boat speed so I’m definitely benefiting, benefiting from being here it’s been a great experience too.”

ISAF Youth Worlds

Langkawi, Malaysia is hosting the 45th edition of the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships from 27 December to 3 January 2016. More than 380 sailors from 80 sailing in more than 300 boats across nine disciplines will compete in Malaysia.

Website – www.isafyouthworlds.com/home.php