As three RYA Youth Squad sailors are selected for the Musto Academy, a contract is signed to continue support for Volvo Oppies
At the RYA Youth Championships held at Pwhelli, 4-7 April, new appointments were made to the Musto Academy, created in 2007 to provide support for our emerging stars who are expected to maintain Great Britain’s dominant lead in international small boat sailing as the London Olympics come into sharp focus.
In its second year, the Academy welcomes the following entrants, all from single-handed classes and proposed by Simon Wergan (RYA Youth Racing Manager) at the close of the event which this year was attended by the RYA’s patron, HRH The Princess Royal:
Sophie Mckeeman (Radial) 15 years old from Kempsford, who won the Girls’ Laser Radial class at the RYA Youth National Trials and also secured a place in the British European Championships in Brittany this summer.
Martin Evans. Laser Radial, who sails a Laser Radial at West Mersea and recently took a silver medal at the New Zealand 2008 Youth World Championships.
Izzy Hamiton, RS:X: 15 years old of Holsworthy, Devon, won the demanding RS:X Girls’ title to confirm her selection to the Musto Academy.
Simon Wergan, RYA Youth Manager, said: “It was a testing week at times but everyone was patient and the standard of racing across the classes was fantastic and, as expected, extremely close in many cases. It is a great credit to the race officials and event organisers that things went as well as they did.”
Nigel Musto said: “It’s vital to wear the right technical kit to maximise performance, so we kit out our Academicians with a complete year-round selection to cover both training and competition programmes. We also ensure they have the appropriate shore-side kit.”
The RYA Team GBR, representing Britain at the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships in Denmark, will also benefit from Musto support.
Oppy-tunity
Musto’s support for the Optimist class has been a major feature of the brand’s programme to encourage Britain’s young sailors for over seven years, augmenting the successful partnership between Volvo and Musto, which also encompasses the high profile, quadrennial Volvo Round the World Race, which takes yacht racing to extreme conditions – demanding the ultimate in technical clothing.
Nigel continued: “Young sailors just getting their sealegs are the future market for our clothing - and of personal interest to me; all my youngsters have come up through the Oppies – and so did I! So I know from experience that kitting kids out in really good kit to keep them warm, dry and, above all, happy on the water is of prime importance. That’s why our Kids’ Range mirrors our adult clothing in design and construction.”
The Volvo Musto Championship programme for Oppies is being expanded from three to five events this year and at the National Optimist Championships alone some 400 youngsters – and their families – will benefit from Musto’s support both on and off the water.
For more information on the Musto Academy, or to order your copy of the new, comprehensive Yachting Technical 2008 catalogue, contact Musto Customer Services on 01268 495830 or email customerservices@musto.com. Log on to www.musto.com to locate your nearest stockist and to see the whole range.
