The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is delighted to have a strong presence at the 2024 World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship this year. The event, which runs from 29 November to 2 December, is hosted by the Saudi Sailing Federation at the prestigious Jeddah Yacht Club & Marina in Saudi Arabia.

This year’s championship will feature 12 of the world’s top youth match racing teams competing in FarEast 28 keelboats, with crew of up to five sailors. Set on the scenic Red Sea coast, Jeddah Yacht Club has quickly gained a reputation as premier sailing venue, recently hosting the America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta during the 37th America’s Cup cycle.

RNZYS has a total of 13 sailors competing across three teams, highlighting the club’s strength in developing elite youth sailing talent. Two RNZYS teams are representing New Zealand directly, while three additional RNZYS sailors are part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) team.

RNZYS Performance Programme sailor Josh Hyde and his Waitemata racing team of: Zach Fong, Cody Coughlan, Mason Mulcahy, and Sofia Higgott.

RNZYS Mastercard Youth Training Programme team of Noah Malpot, Alissa Marshall, Ben Roff, Ethan Fong, Luis Schneider.

RNZYS Performance Sailing Coach Zak Merton, who is in Jeddah with the teams, highlighted the squad’s enthusiasm and readiness for the challenge:

“It’s fantastic to have such a strong group of sailors here. The collaboration and team spirit across the RNZYS crews is excellent, which will be a key advantage. I’m proud to see our sailors competing against some of the world’s top youth teams on this prestigious stage.”

The Sailors have been enjoying the warm weather and dynamic conditions in Jeddah, with wind speeds ranging from 10-18 knots and sea states of over one metre providing valuable experience and challenging racing.

After a successful season in the southern hemisphere RNZYS Performance Programme Sailor Josh Hyde is going into the regatta as the number one seeded skipper having just finished 3rd in a competitive fleet at the New Zealand Open Match Racing Nationals. Hyde and his Waitemata racing team of Zach Fong, Cody Coughlan, Mason Mulcahy, and Sofia Higgott have had a solid event build up and are poised to get racing tomorrow.

Hyde said about the experience so far “The team are in high spirits; we have spent the training window really locking in on our teamwork. The competition looks strong, we’re looking forward to lining up and start racing tomorrow”

Hyde remarked the hospitality in Jeddah is world class, “the atmosphere around the club is electric”

The second RNZYS team is Mastercard Youth Training Programme skipper Noah Malpot, who is in his first year as helm. Malpot has had an unprecedented first year, coming second to Josh Hyde in the New Zealand Youth Match Racing Trials, and 5th at the New Zealand Open Match Racing Nationals late last month. Malpot is joined by Alissa Marshall, Ben Roff, Ethan Fong and Luis Schneider.

Malpot described his approach heading into the regatta, “This regatta could be anyone’s game, having received a late entry, we don’t feel too much pressure. As a bit of an underdog, we can settle down and just focus on our sailing. I think that good boat handling could see us go far in this regatta.”

Malpot and his team have been enjoying Jeddah so far. “The city has very impressive architecture. People have been very welcoming, and the Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina is a great venue. It has been awesome sailing in such warm weather compared to back home.”

RNZYS also has three of its Mastercard Youth Training Programme sailors joining the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia team – Sam Scott, Luca Smith and Phoebe Buckland who join Helm Saleh Alhawil and his crew-Battal Alsultan. Talking to Sam Scott, who is on Main and Tactics for the KSA team, “the varied conditions with winds of 10-18knots and sea states over one metre most days have provided fast learnings, and the teams are working together well.”

RNZYS is proud to showcase its exceptional youth sailing programmes on the world stage and is confident that its teams will perform strongly in this highly competitive field.