Please select your home edition
Edition
Ocean Safety 2023 - New Identity - LEADERBOARD

Youth Worlds opens at Langkawi, Malaysia

by ISAF 28 Dec 2015 17:10 GMT 27 December 2015 - 3 January 2015

The 45th edition of the Youth Sailing World Championships has been declared open by World Sailing Vice President Chris Atkins at the opening ceremony in Langkawi, Malaysia.

During the ceremony, 425 sailors, 125 coaches and officials from a record 76 countries paraded towards the Astaka of the Lagenda Park with their national flags waving for all to see.

The event breaks all previous numbers in terms of participation and number of nations. The previous best of 67, achieved at the 2014 event in Tavira, Portugal, was easily surpassed with a number of new and returning nations in Malaysia.

Competing in five classes across nine events, the sailors were introduced before the traditional Mixing of the Waters in which sea water from each country, brought by the sailors, was mixed and later poured into the Malaysian sea as a symbol of their participation.

Speeches were delivered by World Sailing Vice President Chris Atkins, Malaysian Youth Sports Minister YB. Encik Khairy Jamaluddin and Tan Sri Khalid from the Langkawi Development Authority.

During the opening ceremony World Sailing Vice President Chris Atkins thanked those involved in organizing the championships, coaches and supporters in attendance as well as the sailors.

Atkins also highlighted the importance of the event saying, "The Youth Sailing World Championships gives the sailors from the very largest to the very smallest country of the world that vital stepping stone from their junior sailing to the Olympics. It gives the sailors the first opportunity to be selected and then represent their country at an international event."

He continued, "We couldn't do this without our boat manufacturers. They are the people who have to cope with the growth of this fantastic event. Laser Performance and Constant Wind. Ovington and UpMarine. Nautivela, Neil Pryde and Sirena Voile, thank you for your continuing support. It's you along with the wind that allow us to go sailing."

To celebrate the opening of the 45th Youth Sailing World Championships, Vice President Chris Atkins passed the World Sailing flag to the Malaysian Navy who had the responsibility of hoisting the flag to declare the event open.

Following the ceremony, the sailors enjoyed Malaysian cuisine on the Lagenda Park beach with the eagle at Dataran Lang looking over them ahead of racing while local dancers graced the stage with a cultural performance.

Attention will now turn to the first day of racing which is scheduled to start at 10:00 local time on Tuesday 29 December. Racing continues through to 3 January 2016 where nine Youth World Sailing Champions will be crowned.

www.isafyouthworlds.com

Related Articles

2025 Youth Sailing Worlds heads to Portugal
Scheduled to take place from 12 to 20 December at Vilamoura Sailing World Sailing has selected the Portuguese venue of Vilamoura Sailing to host the 2025 Youth Sailing World Championships. Posted on 2 Dec
Polish skiff star enjoys the winning habit
More success for Ewa Lewandowska at the Youth Sailing World Championships Polish skiff sailor Ewa Lewandowska has made a habit out of success at the Youth Sailing World Championships. Posted on 20 Jul
Italy celebrate week of dominance on home waters
Italy retained their Nations Trophy in style Italy retained their Nations Trophy in style as a tremendous week at the Youth Sailing World Championships 2024 was capped off with closing ceremony celebrations in Riva. Posted on 20 Jul
Youth Sailing World Championships overall
Brazilian kite win on day of dominance for Italy Brazil's Lucas Pes Fonseca sealed the men's Formula Kite title on a day otherwise dominated by Italians as 10 more Youth Sailing World Championships winners were crowned. Posted on 19 Jul
Youth Sailing World Championships day 4
Greek duo claim first title Danai Giannouli and Iakovina Kerkezou wrote themselves into the Youth Sailing World Championships history books by claiming a maiden crown at the event on Lake Garda. Posted on 18 Jul
Rising Italian star at Youth Sailing Worlds
17-year-old qualified for home Championships ahead of youth European champion Nicolo Renna may be the Italian iQFOiL name on everyone's lips ahead of Paris 2024 but Federico Pilloni is the country's windsurfing hotshot taking the Youth Sailing World Championships by storm. Posted on 18 Jul
Sri Lankan duo at Youth Sailing World Championship
These dinghy sailors find themselves toe-to-toe with the world's best Taalya Tranchell and Omar Hazari have been mapping out their sailing journeys on their own merit and find themselves on an upward trajectory in Trentino. Posted on 18 Jul
Youth Sailing World Championships day 3
Young Turk breaks Argentinian winning streak Reigning kite champion Derin Atakan rocketed to her first bullet of the Youth Sailing World Championships to break Maria Catalina Turienzo's perfect winning streak as races across Lake Garda were postponed due to low winds. Posted on 17 Jul
Youth Sailing World Championships day 2
French duo pile pressure on Italian rivals in the Nacra 15 France's Côme Vic-Molinero and Fatima Tia applied pressure on Lorenzo Sirena and Alice Dessy in the Nacra 15 class on the second day of racing at the Youth Sailing World Championships. Posted on 16 Jul
Teen ace proud to fly Samoan flag
At Youth Sailing World Championships Seeing the Samoan flag on her ILCA 6 sail for the first time at the Youth Sailing World Championships in The Hague was one of Elle Rasch's proudest moments. Posted on 16 Jul