Yachting: Four-medal haul for NZ at Youth Worlds

George Gautrey in action. Photo / Christophe Launay

New Zealand has just won four medals and second place in the Nation's Trophy at the 2015 ISAF Youth World Sailing Championships after a brilliant final day of racing in Langkawi, Malaysia.

Assured of at least one medal before racing got underway today the New Zealand representative team has come away from the prestigious regatta with one of the best medal hauls on memory with two silvers and two bronze.

The silver medals came from Nick Egnot Johnson and Jackson Keon (Boy's 29er) and
George Gautrey (Boy's Laser Radial). Bronze came from sisters Kate and Greta Stewart (Girl's 29er), and also from Tamryn Lindsay and William Mckenzie (SL16 Multihull).

The collective results for the 2015 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team sees them place second overall behind Australia in the Nation's Trophy rankings awarded for the best performing nation across all classes.

"Fizzing", "frothing", "still a bit in shock", and "so happy right now" were among the comments coming from team members in Malaysia who are elated at the final results.

Lying fourth before today's final race, George Gautrey, from the Muritai Sailing Club in Wellington, sailed out of his skin in what was possibly the most intense race of the series.

Posting a fourth on the water saw him rise to take second overall and the silver medal.

17-year-old Gautrey described light, shifty winds making for some heart in your throat racing; however he rose to the challenge and came away with a phenomenal result.

Nick Egnot Johnson and Jackson Keon, both from the Murrays Bay Sailing Club, put on an impressive performance during a competitive week and come away with the boy's 29er silver medal.

Taking a narrow lead into today's final race the young duo were disappointed to not take the gold but are still very excited about the week they have been able to put together on the water.

Their training partners, and Murrays Bay Sailing club-mates, William Mckenzie and Tamryn Lindsay had another good day on the catamaran course coming away with the bronze medal. From having never sailed a SL16 five days ago to taking out bronze at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships is an impressive showing.

Sisters Kate and Greta Stewart, also from the Murrays Bay Sailing Club, moved up into third place, on equal points to second, but taking home the bronze medal on count-back.

Responding well to the high pressure situation today the girls sailed a phenomenal final race. Sailing in after racing today the pair thought they had finished fourth but upon arriving onshore and hearing the news the enthusiastic celebration could be heard a mile away.

2015 ISAF Youth World Sailing ChampionshipsNZL Yachting Trust Youth Team Final Results
Silver - George Gautrey (Muritai Sailing Club) - Boys Laser Radial
Silver - Nick Egnot Johnson and Jackson Keon (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) - Boys 29er
Bronze - Kate Stewart and Greta Stewart (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) - Girls 29er
Bronze - Tamryn Lindsay and William Mckenzie (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) - SL16
9th - Kerensa Jennings and Chelsea Rees (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) - Girls 420
11th - Lauren Mackenzie (Manly Sailing Club) - Girls RS:X
12th - Ali Nightingale (Charteris Bay Sailing Club) - Girls Laser Radial
14th - Jono Weston (Wakatere Boating Club) and Taylor Balogh (Naval Point Club Lyttleton) - Boys 420
21st - Finn Croft - Boys RS:X (Takapuna Boating Club)