NZL Team on the hunt for medals at Aon Youth Sailing World Champs

The Stewart sisters dont really know where their loyalties lie when it comes to next years Americas Cup with father Ian part of the Oracle team this time around but they know exactly what flag they are racing for at this weeks 2016 Aon Youth Sailing World Championships in Auckland.

Kate (18) and Greta (16) are part of a 13-strong New Zealand team competing at the youth world championships off Torbay. The pair claimed bronze in the 29er skiff in Malaysia at the last world event and are a strong medal chance when sailing gets under way on Friday.

Ian was a member of Emirates Team New Zealand at the last Americas Cup but has since joined Oracles on-shore team for next years campaign. It meant the Stewarts shifted to Bermuda last year, where the next Americas Cup will be sailed, and it has come with benefits - they live on the waters edge and the sisters launch from in front of their house whenever they go training.

The pair also have the advantage of being in home waters for the 2016 Aon Youth Sailing World Championships, having grown up sailing off Murrays Bay, and Kate said the key for their regatta will be how well the sisters gel on the water.

"We always sail well when were happy and getting along and having fun; trying to keep a relaxed vibe.

"We are quite different when in regattas to just hanging around at home. Theres a more serious vibe."

The Stewarts are one of two sets of sisters in the New Zealand team - 16-year-old twins Courtney and Brianna Reynolds-Smith are competing in the girls 420 - and are among New Zealands main medal hopes, along with boys Laser Radial sailor George Gautrey, who claimed silver at the last world championships, and Jackson Keon, who picked up silver in the 29er in 2015 but who has switched to the multihull Nacra 15 with Tom Fyfe.

The 2016 Aon Youth Sailing World Championships will see more than 380 sailors from 66 nations under the age of 19 compete across international youth sailing classes including the 29er skiff, Laser Radial, RS:X, 420 and Nacra 15 over five days of racing at the Torbay Sailing Club (Dec 16-20).

New Zealand has enjoyed good success since the first youth world championships in 1971, having won 50 medals. Past Kiwi winners have included Chris Dickson, Russell Coutts, Blair Tuke and Dean Barker.

Yachting New Zealand talent identification manager Ian Neely says his team are as ready as they will ever be.

"Im happy with how they are sailing coming into it. I feel like they have done the work they can do and are as prepared as they can be.

"It comes down to whether they can perform to their ability with all the added pressures of the other nations at a big event, living in combined accommodation and whether they can still stay relaxed enough and be excited about the event.

"Having been to one of these events before helps and having been successful at one before can cause a problem because they now have expectations, so its just managing that as well. Having success last year and coming on home turf is a pretty significant challenge."

Its one the Stewart sisters are ready for before settling on who they will support at the next Americas Cup.

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Yachting New Zealand