ISAF president Carlo Croce
Sunday 14 July 2013* – ISAF President Carlo Croce officially welcomed 351 sailors from 61 nations to the 2013 Sail First ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship at the opening ceremony in Limassol, Cyprus.
Sixty one flag bearers and their teams paraded from Limassol’s old castle towards Limassol promenade where local people, tourists, families and friends attended to view the spectacle.
During the parade the teams were accompanied by percussion group Patoukinio before representatives of the national teams carried water from their country to the central amphora (ceramic container) before it was poured into the sea.
Speeches were delivered by ISAF President Carlo Croce, Cyprus Sailing Federation President Giannos Fotiou, Cyprus Sports Organization President Pambos Stylianou and Mayor of Limassol Andreas Christou.
Addressing the sailors ISAF President Carlo Croce said, “For more than 40 years this event has been going on and many sailors who have started off at this event have gone on to become World Champion, Olympians, America’s Cup sailors and Ocean heroes. I think and trust the athletes whose own dream will take shape here.
“A special congratulation to the 20 athletes on the ISAF Athlete Participation Programme and a special welcome to the Mozambique team who are sailing at the event for the first time and I wish them luck.
“This is a moment to make friendships and our sport is very special because yes the result is special but fun is more important and we are here to have fun and enjoy our lovely sport and do not forget this.
“You are here to give us a hint of what the future of sailing will be like, I have a very good impression of this generation of sailors from all of the teams I have seen here and it is very good for the future of our sport.”
The ISAF flag was delivered by the youngest participant of the host country Orestis Germanos who raised it to the top of the flag pole to mark the official opening of the Sail First ISAF Youth Worlds.
Cultural performances followed with traditional Cypriot dances and music.
CYSAF President Giannis Fotiou welcomed all the visitors, praised the organizing committee and the 250 volunteers for their assistance. He then thanked Limassol Mayor Mr Andreas Christou for taking this event under his auspices as well as all sponsors, supporters and manufacturers.
Racing at the 2013 Sail First ISAF Youth Worlds commences on 15 July through to 19 July in eight events.
Follow The Event
The 2013 Sail First ISAF Youth Worlds Live Blog will be following the event from 15-19 July. View it on the ISAF website here http://www.isafyouthworlds.com/editions/2013/live-blog.php.
Each course has its own Twitter account. @ISAFyw13_Alpha will be following the Laser Radials and 29er, @ISAFyw13_Bravo will be focusing on the RS:X windsurfers and @ISAFyw13_Charli will keep an eye on the 420s and SL16 fleets.
Links
ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship
www.isafyouthworlds.com
ISAF Athlete Participation Programme
www.isafyouthworlds.com/app.
ISAF Youth Worlds Facebook site:
www.facebook.com/ISAFYouthWorlds
ISAF Youth Worlds YouTube
www.youtube.com/ISAFChannel
International Sailing Federation (ISAF)
www.sailing.org
The ISAF Youth Worlds was first held in Sweden in 1971. The 2013 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Limassol, Cyprus will be the 43rd edition of the championship.
Past notable winners include American’s Cup skippers, Chris Dickson (NZL), Russell Coutts (NZL), Dean Barker (NZL); Olympic medallists, Robert Scheidt (BRA), Amelie Lux (GER), Ben Ainslie (GBR), Iain Percy (GBR), Alessandra Sensini (ITA), Elise Rechichi (AUS) and Tessa Parkinson (AUS); Volvo Ocean Race sailors like Stuart Bannatyne (NZL) and Richard Clarke (CAN). The most successful ISAF Youth World Champions are Great Britain’s Sally Cuthbert and Poland’s Zofia Klepacka having won four successive titles in the Laser II and Mistral respectively.
Great Britain is the current holder of the Nations Trophy, awarded annually to the top performing nation at the Youth Worlds. France is the most success nation through the history of the Championship, winning the Nations Trophy on a record 12 occasions and holding a record 70 medals: 22 gold, 30 silver and 18 bronze.
International Sailing Federation
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is the world governing body for the sport of sailing.
ISAF is made up of over 130 Member National Authorities (MNAs), who are its principal members, and responsible for the decision making process that governs the sailing world.
There are currently more than 100 ISAF International, Recognized and Classic Yacht Classes, ranging from the small dinghy classes for young people up to 60 foot ocean racers.
Sailing
Sailing is a lifetime sport enjoyed right across the world.
The sport encompasses a massive range of disciplines and events including Olympic sailing, offshore sailing, windsurfing, match racing, team racing, fleet racing and disabled sailing.
Sailing first joined the Olympic programme at the Paris 1900 Olympic Games. Sailing was back on the Olympic programme for the London 1908 Olympic Games and has been a part of every Olympic Games since.
* late news arrival
