Smooth sailing for young competitor
Young yachtsman Alex Wotton is making waves in New Zealand sailing.
The 15-year-old Auckland Grammar School student sailed in to second place ahead of 54 competitors at the Starling Class North Island Championships in Wellington this month.
‘‘It was really challenging with winds of 30 knots every day. Some people had a really tough time and gear breakages were a big problem,’’ Alex says.
The Mt Eden resident has been sailing since the age of 7 and is hoping to one day prove he is worth his salt on the world stage at the Olympics.
Sailing is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one, Alex says. ‘‘It’s very tactical and competitive. ‘‘We’re all mates when we’re training but when we’re out on the water for a competition it’s very different.’’
Alex has a raft of competitions in the pipeline, including the 2013 Junior Sail Auckland on February 9 and 10 as part of a 420 team with fellow Auckland Grammar sailor William Linkhorn.
‘‘It looks promising. I think we have a shot at winning,’’ Alex says.
Seventeen-year-old William pipped Alex to the post by just one metre in the last race of the Auckland Regional Starling Match racing trials to become the Auckland representative at the 2013 national championships held in Auckland last week.
Anything can happen sport, Alex says.
‘‘I wouldn’t change that aspect at all. It’s good having that risk.’’
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