New Zealand’s top youth sailors battled everything from 30-knot winds to light, shifty conditions at the 2026 PredictWind New Zealand Youth Championships, with national titles and Youth World Championship selection on the line.
More than 100 sailors competed across six classes at Murrays Bay Sailing Club, 26-29 September, with 16 sailors claiming national honours after four days of racing. The event also served as trials for December’s Youth Worlds in Vilamoura.
After heavy conditions early in the regatta, lighter winds on the final days set up several close title deciders. Male and female winners in four classes are now under consideration for selection to the NZL Sailing Foundation youth team.
Youth manager Sam Mackay praised the fleet’s resilience and the high standard of racing, particularly from sailors competing in their first Youth Trials.
Standout performances included Nelsen Meacham and Oli Stone in the boys’ 29er, and Bella Jenkins and Jess Handley in the girls’ 29er. Stone already owns a Youth Worlds bronze medal, while Jenkins and Handley are chasing a second straight Youth Worlds campaign after winning the Female Under-19 World Championship in July.
In the 420 classes, Hamish Brown and Zenon Nicholas dominated the boys’ fleet, while Tessa Clinton and Lucy Luxford secured the girls’ title despite capsizing in the final race.
The ILCA 6 championships were won by Tom Pilkington and Chloe Turner. Pilkington clinched the boys’ title by a single point, while Turner continued an impressive season that included world and European championship bronze medals.
Vlad Misescu and Elbe White claimed the boys’ and girls’ iQFOiL titles respectively. Oliver Tiedemann and Dahlia Fyfe won the inaugural Waszp titles, while Riley Peet and Valentina Gladiadis topped the wingfoil fleets.
Mackay said the wide range of conditions experienced at Murrays Bay would provide valuable preparation for the Youth Worlds, where New Zealand will again aim to build on last year’s three-medal haul. Several leading contenders already have Youth Worlds experience, including Stone, Jenkins, Handley, Clinton, Pilkington and Turner, with Turner and Clinton targeting their fourth campaigns.
Final results and standings at: https://www.yachtingnz.org.nz/performance/events/youth-national-championships or scan the QR code.
