Durban duo off to City of Sails

FINISHING their sailing year on a high, two of Durban’s top sailors are heading to the other side of the world to compete in the World Sailing Youth Championships in Auckland this month.

Taking on the world’s best at the 46th World Sailing Youth Championships, Point Yacht Club’s Benji Daniel and Chad Stevenson are packing their bags to head to Auckland.

This is the second time that the youngsters are lining up against the next generation of the best-of-the-best in the sailing world.

Last year in Langkawi, the enthusiastic 29er sailors finished 28th overall. The youngest and lightest in the fleet, they were competing against sailors who were four or five years their senior.

Helmsman Daniel said: “With both of our school commitments this year, we haven’t been able to get across to the various regattas leading up to the worlds, so the last time we sailed internationally was in Langkawi. We have been putting in a lot of hours, and concentrating quite a bit on our starts which was an area we felt we could improve on.”

With an expected 400 sailors from 70 countries racing over nine classes, the two Durban pupils are expecting some tough competition in their category. Daniel,15, a grade ten pupil at Thomas More College, and Stevenson,15, from Umhlanga College have grown as a team since Langkawi.

“Sailing in Malaysia was a big learning curve for us as it was our first major event that we sailed together. A year on, and many hours on the water, we have gelled nicely and are hoping to push the guys at the front of the fleet,” Daniel said.

“This is the second time that the event is being hosted in Auckland. Known as the ‘City of Sails’, it is going to be a great honour for us to race in that part of the world. On the back of a record turnout from 76 countries in Malaysia, it should be a top quality event.”

The up-and-coming sailor was relishing rubbing shoulders with the Kiwis who were of world’s best sailing icons.

“Guys who race in the big events like the Americas Cup, the Extreme Sailing Series and the Volvo Ocean Race, it is like a dream being able to hang out with the New Zealand Americas Cup hangars.” – Sports Reporter

PICTURE: SOPHIE THOMPSON OUT AT SEA: Burning it offshore are pupils Benji Daniel and Chad Stevenson, stretching their legs and getting in some training before the 46th World Sailing Youth Championships that takes place in Auckland at the end of the year.