12 Young Sailors graduate from the RNZYS Lion Foundation

Another 12 young sailors, ranging from 18 – 20 years of age, graduated from the RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme on Thursday evening and venture into the next step of their sailing careers!

Now into it’s 22nd year the RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme has graduated over 360 sailors and many of them are now household names reaching the top of their sport. Sailors such as Mark Christensen, Gavin Brady, James Dagg, Jeremy Lomas, David Endean, Carl Williams, Sharon Ferris, Amy Mulcahy, Jessica Smyth, Adam Minoprio the list goes on and on............

Thursday’s graduation ceremony at the Squadron was attended by Sponsors, Supporters, Graduates and their families. Each graduate spoke of the year(s) achievements as well as their future sailing endeavours.

Graduates were:

Graduate of 1 year    Adam Locke, Tom Blampied, Oliver Scott-Mackie                
Graduate of 2 years   Nichola Trudgen, Matthew Randall, Bradley Farrand, Adrian Short

Graduate of 3 years   James Williamson, Taylor Holland, Jeremy Dey, Hannah Morris, Reuben Corbett

Training Manager Guy Pilkington took the opportunity to thank the many Race Management, Umpires and Graduates who continually arrive on the weekends to ensure that the level of training & racing is of the highest standard.

The coaches who have supported the teams travelling overseas this year, along with Guy, have been Roy Dickson, who attended the Harken Youth Match Racing Regatta at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Sydney and the Centreport Youth International in Wellington.

This year youth programme teams have competed in numerous keelboat events, including the BMW Auckalnd Regatta week in Young 88 ‘Sister Moonshine’ placing 3rd. And most recently a 3rd overall in the extremely competitive Young 88 National Championships, only behind Rod Davis (Triple 8) & Ray Davies (Flash Gordon).

It has been another fantastic year for the Youth Training Programme and Coach Guy Pilkington is pleased to report that the 2009 / 2010 intake is already full.
‘We are very excited about this season, we have 19 members returning for their 2nd or 3rd years and have 12 new youths joining us.”

Applications are open throughout the year for the RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme, simply contact Guy Pilkington 0274 918 962 or complete the online application form (www.rnzys.org.nz).