Youth National Sailing Championships 2010

August 7, 2010, OTTAWA – Athletes from Nepean Sailing Club and Britannia Yacht Club were well represented among the finalists in the three categories of competition, as racing in the Under-17 category of the Youth National Sailing Championships wrapped up today.

Among the single-handed boats, Bryanna von Leeuwen from BYC placed third in the Laser Radial (Female) fleet, following Rebecca Abelson of the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club (second), and winner Violet Stafford of Kingston Yacht Club.

On the men’s side, Andrew Faurschou of NSC placed second in the Laser Radial (Male) fleet, ahead of Austin Ross of Winnipeg Sailing Club, and behind winner Victor Sullivan of Pointe Claire Yacht Club.
Double-handed boats

In the Club 420 fleet, the Britannia team of Veronique Fortier and Ryan Knight placed third, behind Zac Baum and Emily Mcilquham of Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto, and winners Berg Ellemers and Ali tenHove of Kingston Yacht Club.

Full race results can be found at www.nsc.ca/ynsc2010/results.

NSC Sportsmanship Award Winner

Special mention must be made of Mark McGugan of Nepean Sailing Club, who was the recipient of the first NSC Youth National Sailing Championship Sportsmanship Award in the Under-17 category, as well as the Fogh Marine Sportsmanship Award.

The NSC award is designed to recognize athletes who have actively demonstrated, throughout the regatta, the commitment expressed in the Sailors’ Code, including the pledge to “act in a sportsmanlike manner both on and off the course; and respect their fellow competitors, race committee, volunteers, coaches and parents.”

Race officials were impressed by Mr. McGugan’s dedication to the sport of sailing. Mr. McGugan held his own in the four-day U-19 regatta earlier in the week, then spent long days volunteering in the U—17 regatta afterwards.
The NSC award was created by the Nepean Sailing Club on the occasion of the club hosting the Championships. The trophy is a stunning, blown glass sailboat, donated by Nautical White, suppliers of the regalia for the regatta. The trophy stands over 16″ high, and is laser-etched with the name of the award.

About the Youth National Sailing Championships

Part of the Canadian Yachting Association’s Long-Term Athlete Development program, the Youth National Sailing Championships, hosted this year by the Nepean Sailing Club, features two distinct regattas: one for male and female athletes aged 19 years and under (“U19″), and one for athletes aged 17 years and under (“U17″), competing in various classes: 29ers, Laser, Laser Radial, and Club 420. The successful champions will be racing at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Zadar, Croatia in 2011, and some will ultimately go on to compete to be on Canada’s team for the 2012 Olympics.

About the Nepean Sailing Club

Located in Dick Bell Park in Ottawa’s west end, the Nepean Sailing Club is one of Canada’s largest sailing clubs, with over 1500 members. It is a family-oriented, volunteer based organization dedicated to promoting and encouraging active participation by members and the general public in the sport of sailing and recreational boating. The Club was started in 1979 by a group of sail enthusiasts from local communities and the City of Nepean. A great deal of what exists today is due to volunteerism and a love of boating.

For more information, please contact:

Wendy Zatylny
Chair, Public Relations & Sponsorship
Cell: 613-851-8460
wordz@magma.ca

For race results, please visit the Championships website Results page.