Sailors praise impact of Youth Emerging Nations Program

The program seeks to close the gap between athletes from traditionally strong sailing nations and those hoisting flags lesser spotted at World Sailing events.

The scheme comprises of a five-day training camp before the start of the Youth Sailing World Championships for all sailors involved.

Participants also receive support with flights and other costs associated with attendance and are put through their paces by some of the world’s best coaches but it is the opportunity to meet like-minded sailors, and friends for life, that has proved most valuable.

“It has been really fun. I met so many people and made so many friends,” said Scarlett Hadley from St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“It is really cool to meet people who are also not so fortunate and don’t have that much experience.

“My favourite thing is how nice everyone is. It was so fun to train and everyone just clicked.”

Fiji’s Nelle Leenders added: “I have already met so many new people, everybody is so helpful and kind and really active and ready to get going.

“It gives you a really cool insight into the world of sailing and the different pathways it takes people. It is really impressive to see what some people have done with their sailing.”

The program’s financial support has also proved vital to ensuring participants are able to compete at flagship events such as Buzios 2023.

“It is a great feeling to be here,” said Adhvait Menon, from India. “I have sailed in a lot of great venues, but I think Brazil is my favourite because the weather is good.

“Europe is too cold for me and this is quite similar to Indian weather and there is good winds which we don’t have in India.

“Brazil is halfway around the globe and coming here wouldn’t have been possible without ENP support.

“I want other young sailors to keep taking opportunities and not to shy away, we are from emerging nations so need to take every opportunity we get and make the best out of it.”

The program is now in its ninth year after replacing the Athlete Participation Program in 2015.

This year’s Youth Worlds sees sailors from nations such as Uruguay and South Africa come together, World Sailing Training and Development Executive Cat Duncan talks to the program’s impact on and off the water.

She said: “What makes me most proud about the program is when I see the sailors make friends for life and also when I see them out there racing, putting into practice skills they learned earlier in the week.

“Not only do the sailors get sailing experience, but they get to meet fellow sailors from across the world, they get to make new friends, they get to learn to take responsibility for their own equipment and we also do workshops in areas such as fitness, goal-setting and Season planning.

“The sailors get access to train on the waters before the event so they can get a bit of experience in the conditions and really get to gel as a group.

“They also get access to high-quality coaching, who lead the group not only in the clinic but in the event and they get to form bonds between each of the sailors.”