Fish & Co. Singapore National Youth Championships 2014 - Overall

Welcome to the final day of the prestigious Fish & Co. Youth Sailing Championships in Singapore. This event aims to boost the skills and experience of young sailors here, and to that end the organizers are adopting the medal race format to give the athletes a taste of Olympic style grandstand finishing. With the final fleet race scheduled for 11am, the sailors were getting ready for their last chance to make that crucial medal race cut.

The breeze was a little stronger and steadier today, which helped the race officers set their courses and start on time. Singapore has thrown a wide variety of conditions at the sailors, and the atmosphere was intense, particularly in the bigger classes where the medal race cut can be brutal.

After the fleet race, and back on shore, a fantastic party was laid on for the youngsters to socialize and celebrate a tough regatta. This was a consolation prize for the sailors who didn't make the medal race cut, usually the top ten, and a chance for them to mix and make friends while watching the Olympic style finale. For the medal racers though, it was back to business.

The medal race course area was set as close to the shore and spectators as possible. In the Byte class, Malaysia revealed a strong set of results, gaining all top three podium positions, with Nur Shazrin Mohamad the outright winner.

After 14 races in the Techno 293 class, Thailand won the first and the second place, with Thanatip Seubyubon on top of the podium. Yesterday, we mentioned Singapore's nailbiting qualification for the Youth Olympics between best friends Mildred Phang and Ynez Lim, and as it stands they are now tied on regatta wins. A tough decision for their selectors coming up.

In the Laser 4.7 class Bernie Chin from Singapore claimed first overall with his teammate and friend Matthew Scott in second. In the Laser Radial Ryan Lo was the most consistent throughout to win top spot.

In the 420 class Kimberly Lim and Savannah Siew were also super consistent and the indisputable winners. They put in steady performances every day using a careful and conservative strategy. Loh Yi and Jonathan Yeo came second overall with Yukie Yokoyama and Samantha Neubronner third.

In the large Optimist fleet the youngsters enjoyed the experience of a top ten Olympic style finale, with Muhammad Shah from Malaysia winning the double points scoring medal race to claim the overall victory over his team mate Muhammad Rozaini. Rising Singaporean sailor Raynn Kwok took third.

The Fish & Co. Youth Sailing Championships wrapped up with a typically impressive Medal and Closing Ceremony, showcasing a real flavor of Singapore's hospitality. Prizes & awards were given under thunderous applause, leaving all the athletes, coaches, race officers, organisers, sponsors, and of course those all important volunteers, a great memory, until, all being well, next year. We hope to see you for that.

www.sailing.org.sg/fishnco