World's top teens making a splash

Joshua Niuhulu,13, is competing in the 2010 Splash World Sailing Championship at Takapuna. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Some of the world's best teenage sailors will compete in the Splash World Sailing Championships at Takapuna Beach this week.

The splash dinghy is a single-handed craft designed for sailors under the age of 19. It's a step up from the Optimist and a training vessel for the Laser class raced at the Olympics.

A fleet of 75 from 12 countries begin a week-long competition today, among them top Kiwi performers including reigning world champion Declan Burn from Picton, world champion Optimist sailor Chris Steel and 2008 Splash champion Ben Lutze from Taipa.

Yesterday's warm-up race was the first chance Burn, 18, had had to get a good look at the international competitors. However, some of them got too close for comfort.

"I had a shocking start, I got hit by a Dutch guy but I was fifth around the top mark [where the race ended] just behind the leaders so I was pretty happy with that."

It's a busy January for the teen who will compete in Starling match and fleet racing in Christchurch before heading to Timaru for the Laser Nationals.

Weighing under 60kg, he excels in lighter wind conditions.

"There's a lot of big guys over here, I can still hold my own in the heavier stuff but the lighter wind suits me."

The youngest competitor is Joshua Niuhulu, 13, who took up sailing three years ago. Over Christmas he has been "eating up" to beef up by 5kg.

Participating countries include Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, China and Samoa.