NSWIS sailors take Australia to podium at World Youth Championships

Sailors from the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) played a starring role as the Australian Youth Team picked up a silver medal and two bronze medals on the final day of the 2018 Youth World Championships.

NSWIS athletes were central to the team’s success in Texas, with Henry Larkings and Miles Davey winning bronze in the 29er boys’ class.

NSWIS pair Larkings and Davey were winners of the bronze medal in the 29er boys’ class, but faced a nervy wait before the results were announced.

“Not knowing, it was pretty nerve-wracking to find out,” Larkings said.

“It’s pretty surreal at the moment. I don’t really know what it’s going to feel like until we’re up there (on the podium).”

Davey said he and his teammate struggled against the odds to earn their medals, having fought back after disqualification in an earlier race.

“We had a UFD [U-flagged] so it was hard to stay up there. But we managed to, so it was good. … It was pretty emotional.”

Australia put in a solid performance overall to come in 8th in the Nations Trophy, which was won by the United States.

Australian results (NSWIS athletes in bold):

29er boys –
Larkings/Davey – 1, 2, 2, 6, 10, 7, (UFD), 1, 3, 6, 9, 2, 11 – BRONZE MEDAL

29er girls –
Buchanan/Duggan – 12, (UFD), 8, 8, 13, 21, 11, 14, 4, 3, 5, 2, 15 – 9th

420 boys –
Henry/Featherstone – 8, 7, 2, 2, 4, 3, 2, 1, (13) – SILVER MEDAL

Nacra 15 –
Cooley/Haseldine – 14, 7, (DNF), UFD, 10, 13, 11, 11, 18, 12, 12, 12, UFD, 2 – 13th

Laser Radial girls –
Maddie O’Shea – 10, 11, 9, 10, (19), 15, 16, 7, 6 – 12th

Laser Radial boys –
Zac Littlewood – 1, 8, 4, 2, 8, (11), 2, 1, 6 – BRONZE MEDAL

RSX girls –
Amelia Quinlan – 15, (DNF), DNF, DNF, 17, DNC, 16, 16, DNF, DNF, DNF, DNF, 16 – 16th

RSX boys –
Alex Halank – 20, 19, 18, 19, 24, 23, 22, 18, 22, 18, 17, 16, (25) – 20th