Youth Worlds 2019 - Meet the Team Profile Multihull Entry

Published Tue 11 Jun 2019

1. How is training and preparation going for Youth Worlds going?
Stephanie: It’s going well. We have been training most weekends on different boats to learn how to adapt to high performance catamaran sailing.
Liam: Training and preparation are going well. We are busy finalising our training programme in Italy two weeks before the event in order to train on the Nacra 15.

2. What does training involve at the moment?
Stephanie: Learning to work as a team on the boat and we’re also both training physically to get stronger and fitter to sail a high performance boat. We are also sailing almost every weekend to ensure we are able to adapt to
new, high performance boats.
Liam: Training at the moment involves preparing ourselves mentally and physically for the challenge of sailing against the best in the world.3. How many times have you competed at this level before and where was it?
Stephanie: I have never competed at a Youth Worlds but I have competed at the Hobie 16 Worlds in China as crew for my dad and at the Europeans two years ago in the Netherlands. I have not sailed a Nacra 15 before.
Liam: This will be my first time competing at an international level

4. What are you aiming for in Poland?
Stephanie: We are hoping to finish top 15 but we are coming in as the underdogs with only 10 days of training on the Nacra 15. So for us finishing 24 out of 25 will be an achievement. We are planning on gaining experience and knowledge of this level of competitionat this event so we can excel at this level further on in our sailing careers.
Liam: Our plan is to be competitive but we are happy with wherever we finish. We are sailing on a boat we would have only sailed for 10 days before the event against teams that have trained the entire year.

5. Have you been to Poland before and do you know what conditions to expect?
Stephanie: I have only travelled to Poland on my school tour but we only travelled inland so I never saw the place where we will be sailing. Liam has been watching the wind and weather conditions and sharing his findings with me so we can both make tactical calls while competing.
Liam: I have never been to Poland but I have been watching the weather patterns and have an idea of what conditions to expect.

6. Going way back, how and when did you first get into sailing?
Stephanie: I started sailing at three with my parents off the coast of Scottburgh for fun, but started sailing competitively at the age of six with my dad. I crewed for him on the Hobie 16 for about 10 years.
Liam: I got into sailing four years ago when I attended the Dart 18 World Championships held at Stilbaai Yacht Club. I didn’t sail the event but I fell in love with the idea of competitive sailing and from that day on I was hooked.

7. What has been the highlight of your sailing career so far?
Stephanie: I can’t pinpoint one event as every one has been special and amazing in its own way, with each event teaching me different lessons. I am very grateful for the travel opportunities that sailing has given me like traveling to Tanzania, Malawi, China, the Netherlands and many more amazing places. Winning Youth Nationals has also always been a dream of mine so when Liam and I won, it was so amazing for me to achieve. Also sailing with my dad was so special to me as he is the reason why I’m sailing today. He taught me how to sail and Iwill always cherish my time with him.
Liam: The highlight of my sailing career has to be winning Dart 18 Nationals and Hobie 16 Youth Nationals.

8. How did you two join forces as a team?
Stephanie: We met at Youth Nationals two years ago and instantly became very close friends. We got to know each other and slowly we realised that we could do well sailing together. After sailing an event with Mark Wijtenburg, Liam approached me and asked me if we could attempt to sail one event together as he was convinced we would be an amazing team. We sailed Dart Nationals and won, which was an instant sign that we were meant to sail together. We went on to compete at Youth Nationals and we are now an unstoppable team. The bond we share on the boat is like nothing I’ve seen before and this definitely helps us achieve and do well.
Liam: Steph and I have been friends for quite a while and the one regatta we sailed against each other, she crewed for Mark Whitenburg and I saw how well she worked on the boat. After that I convinced her that we should sail together and the rest is history.

9. How much of a boost was your performance together at the Dart Nationals and at SA Youth Nationals?
Stephanie: Winning these events with almost no experience together just proved to us that we are a team that’s meant to be, and we can achieve awesome sailing results as a team.
Liam: Dart Nationals was only out first regatta together so winning really gave us a massive confidence boost. Then going into Youth Nationals as underdogs sailing on home water and then winning the event really showed what we are capable of achieving as a team.

10. What other events have you sailed together and how did it go?
Stephanie: We sailed Tiger Nationals and Hobie 16 Nationals. We placed very well at Hobie 16 Nationals but didn’t achieve our wanted position at Tiger Nationals.
Liam: We have sailed Hobie Tiger Nationals where we were the only youth team and 15kg underweight so we only managed to place 16th. At Hobie 16 Nationals we managed to finish fifth against some tough competition sailing offshore Durban.

11. What do you think each of you brings to the team?
Stephanie: Liam knows how to tune a boat to ensure we go fast. I focus on the tactical side and I make the calls on when and where to tack and sail. Most of the calls will still be agreed upon by both Liam and I before we carry them out though. Liam also brings out the very competitive side in me and is always encouraging me to give my all and to do my best. I in turn constantly reassure him and help boost his confidence and we both refrain from breaking each other down. This ensures our team strength stays strong and positive.
Liam: I know how to make the boat go fast and Steph knows where to go, so together we are the perfect combo.

12. How old are you, where are you from and what school do you go to?
Stephanie: I’m 18, I attended Trinity House High School in Randpark Ridge, and I live in the Honeydew area of Gauteng.
Liam: I am 16 years old, I am from the south of Jo’burg and I go to Sparrows Private School.

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