Durban Youths vie for a spot in the upcoming Youth Worlds Team

Auckland is to host this year's International Sailing Federation's (ISAF) Youth Worlds in December, and four Durban youngsters are hoping to win a spot in the team travelling there at the upcoming Youth World Selections taking place in Durban from 29 June - 2 July.

Durban North's Dylan Albert joins forces with Cowie's Hill's James Butler and Glenwood's Jethro Brophy-Tintinger teams up with Westville's Sarah-Ann Hall are the two local teams vying for a berth in the Hobie 16 with spinnaker class. There are six teams travelling from around South Africa that will be taking to the waters offshore of Durban to compete for the one spot in the Catamaran class.

Albert, a Grade 10 student from uMhlanga College and Butler, a Grade 9 pupil from Westville Boy's High School have a number of hours experience sailing together in the double handed classes. They notched up a second place in last year's SAS Youth Nationals sailing on a Hobie 16 with Spinnaker. They also equalled on points with Hobie hotshots, Brandon Wijtenburg and Todd Fisher at the All-Cat Regatta at the Vaal Dam where they were competing on a Hobie 16. The local lads impressively managed to take three wins in the Vaal regatta against Wijtenburg and Fisher.

Glenwood Boy's High School's Brophy-Tintinger and St Mary's Hall are both extremely accomplished sailors in their own rights, but will be joining forces for the first time for this event. Brophy-Tintinger, who prefers sailing Hobies, competed in the Hobie 14 Nationals where he came eighth overall. The competent up-and-coming Hall, who is very comfortable at the front of the boat, usually sails with her father, Peter or brother, Matthew on Hobies.

The seven-day regatta in Auckland is expected to attract over 400 sailors from up to 70 nations. South African Sailing plans on sending four classes across to fly the SA flag with teams participating in the laser, Mulithull, 29er and 420 classes.

Last year Durban's Benji Daniel and Chad Stevenson were the sole KZN representatives in the South African team who competed in Langkawi, Malaysia at the ISAF Youth Worlds and the duo have already made the team representing the 29er class. This year, with such a strong Hobie catamaran fraternity, hopes lie on one of the two Hobie teams competing to succeed and join Daniel and Stevenson in Auckland at the end of the year.

Four of Point Yacht Club's youth sailors are hoping to make their dreams come true, and head to Auckland in New Zealand in the green and gold colours to compete in this year's ISAF Youth World Championships in December.

For more info visit https://www.pyc.co.za or https://www.isafyouthworlds.com