Michael Cate sails in ISAF Youth Worlds Laser Radial

Whangarei sailor Michael Cate races to win, and that is what he plans on doing at the ISAF Youth Worlds Laser Radial in Croatia.
The rising star earned a spot in the New Zealand team after performing well at the two trials earlier this year: the Laser National Championships and the Sail Auckland International Regatta.
Selectors combined sailors' scores from the two regattas and the best performers were awarded a spot to race at the July event.
The Onerahi Yacht Club member began his Youth Worlds campaign successfully, placing third at the British Youth Nationals at Hayling Island in the United Kingdom.
On his return to Whangarei earlier this week, Cate said he had entered the competition with no expectations.
"It was more of a training regatta. We went over to work on some skills.
"It was a pretty good regatta, there was a fleet of 108 competing and it was both boys and girls mixed.
"The standard was pretty good as it was the UK Youth Nationals," the 17-year-old said.
Between now and July, Cate will be focused on training for the ISAF Youth Worlds, which means travelling to Auckland where most of the New Zealand team are based most weekends, plus staying on top of his school work.
He is in his last year at Whangarei Boys High, where he said the teachers were supportive of his sporting endeavours.
"I've already had a lot of time off and I will be away for four weeks in July. After Youth Worlds, I head to France for the Laser Full-rig Under-21 World Championships and the Laser Radial Youth Worlds, both at La Rochelle in France," he said.
"It will be a big month for me, it's pretty full-on. My recovery will be very important.
"I always race to win and I am definitely confident in my ability. I just need to stay composed and have a consistent regatta - consistency is the key," he said.
Among the many who share Cate's confidence in his abilities is fellow Onerahi Yacht Club sailor Mike Sanderson, who will be the guest speaker at a fundraising evening tonight at the yacht club. Sanderson was approached by members of the Onerahi club to talk at the evening which will hopefully kick-start Cate's travel fund for his month in Europe, which will cost him a lot, he said.
The 39-year-old Sanderson was named the 2006 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the year after he skippered ABN Ambro to his second win in the Round the World Yacht race.
Sanderson said he was happy to support Cate with his Youth Worlds bid.
"He said he had seen some of my results and guess he thought I could go somewhere with the sport," Cate said.
"It's a pretty big privilege to have someone like guest speaking. He's done a lot in his career, and he's a role model being from the same club. He has sailed there since he was very young."
There are a few tickets still available for tonight's event at Onerahi Yacht Club, starting at 6pm.
Phone 09 436 2650 if interested.