Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Canadian Yachting Association is thrilled to announce the members of the 2009 Canadian Youth Sailing Team! Congratulations to the following athletes:
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Laser
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Radial
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29er Male
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29er Female
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Hobie 16
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Robert Davis (ON)**
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Isabella Bertold (BC)**
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Alex Chouinard (QC)**
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Alanna Foscarini (ON)
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Nicholas Schwenger (ON)**
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Evert McLaughlin (ON)
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Brenda Bowskill (ON)
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Eric Chouinard (QC)**
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Alison Ludzki (ON)
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Amy McNeill (ON)**
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Oliver Darroch (ON)
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Ingrid Merry (ON)
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Peter Ehvert (ON)
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Dana Archibald (NS)
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Tom Ramshaw (ON)
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Charlotte Skinner (ON)
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Paul Ehvert (ON)
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Danielle Boyd (ON)
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Jean-Luc Robitaille (QC)
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Samantha Rea (ON)
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Alex Dodd (BC)
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Chantal Hearst (ON)
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Dave Mori (ON) (Radial)
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Neomi Lebel (QC)
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Robert Berry (BC)
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Amelia Leeksma (ON)
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The team is being recognized as Canada’s most successful racing sailors in 2008 – under the age of 19. The qualifying event for all classes was the 2008 CYA National Youth Championships.
**In addition, the sailors who represented Canada at the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships are automatically named to the 2009 National Youth Team.
Let’s take a closer look at the members of the Canadian Youth Sailing Team:
LASER CLASS
Robert Davis (KYC, ON)
Robert began sailing an Optimist at the club level in Norway when he was 6 years old. After moving to Canada, he went through Junior Sailing at Kingston Yacht Club. After attaining his Bronze Sail in 2003, Robert moved on to the Race Team and began racing the Byte. In 2005 he was selected for the Ontario Sailing Team, starting in the Laser Radial, and then onto the Laser in 2006. Robert was a member of the Canadian Youth Sailing Team and Canadian Youth World Team in 2007 and 2008. He was also named CYA’s Male Youth Athlete of the Year 2 years consecutively. Robert is currently attending Queen’s University, pursuing a degree in Engineering. He also enjoys downhill skiing and traveling. Robert placed 1st at the National Youth Championships and 5th at the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships.
Evert McLaughlin (RCYC, ON)
Ever since he could walk, Evert has been sailing. Evert’s father was a silver-medalist in the 1984 Olympics and naturally brought him up to sail. He began sailing at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club junior club and left to join the Lake Ontario Optimist Team to travel and race Optimists competitively. After one year in junior club, he moved into his current class. He also enjoys playing hockey, frisbee, & foosball.
Evert placed 2nd at the 2008 CYA Youth National Championships in the Laser Class.
Oliver Darroch (BHYC, ON)
Oliver has been sailing since the age of 6. He completed his gold level of sailing in 2006 and instructed for 2 years. He has been sailing competitively for 6 years and is currently a member of OSA team. He also enjoys playing paintball in his leisure time. Oliver placed 7th at the CYA Youth National Championships.
Tom Ramshaw (KYC, ON)
Tom began sailing at his cottage for social purposes and quickly realized his own potential. He continues to pursue the sport in the Laser class. Tom played competitive hockey and rugby.
Tom placed 4th overall at the CYA Youth National Championships.
Jean-Luc Robitaille (ANBB, QC)
Jean-Luc began sailing at the age of 10 due, in great part, to his father’s influence. He thoroughly enjoyed it and took to the sport immediately. He placed top on the leader board at the Canadian Optimist Championships and CORK. He also enjoys playing basketball and swimming.
Jean-Luc placed 5th at the Youth National Championships.
Dave Mori (RCYC, ON)
Sailing has always been a family tradition. Dave began sailing at the age of 7 at the Oakville Yacht Squadron. Dave has obtained Gold Sail and is currently a member of the RCYC High Performance Team. His other sporting interests include; rugby, volleyball, and hockey among many, many other sports.
Dave placed 1st in the laser radial class at the 2008 Youth National Championships.
LASER RADIAL CLASS
Isabella Bertold (RVYC, BC)
Isabella began sailing lessons at the age of 5. She loved sailing so much she began competing the very next summer. At the age of 7, she achieved 2nd place in the first official event she participated in and soon after that, joined the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club race team. She enjoys the many skills that sailing requires. Aside from sailing Isabella also enjoys biking, swimming, and running.
Isabella placed 4th at the 2008 ISAF Youth World Championships.
Brenda Bowskill (RCYC, ON)
Brenda started sailing when she was 6 years old in an Opti boat at Queen City Yacht Club. She joined the Whitby Junior Sailing Club where she completed White Sail, Bronze & Silver levels. Finally, she continued her racing at Frenchman's Bay Yacht Club where she completed Gold Level. Brenda is currently a member of the RCYC High Performance Race Team. Brenda also spends a lot of her time swimming and is pursuing her National Lifeguarding Certification. Brenda placed 1st overall at the Youth National Championships and was awarded the Bill Gooderham Trophy and the Interlux Trophy at the CYA Youth National Championships.
Ingrid Merry (RCYC, ON)
Ingrid began sailing at the Oakville Yacht Squadron on her family boat, and soon after began sailing school. She completed her Gold sailing level at OYS and then took her sailing to the next level at RCYC. She began training as a member of the High Performance Team. During this time she also became a member of the Ontario Sailing Team. Ingrid is currently in her 1st year at Queen’s University, pursuing an engineering degree.
Ingrid placed 2nd overall at the CYA Youth National Championships.
Charlotte Skinner (KYC, ON)
Charlotte began sailing at the age of 6. She became a member of the Junior Sailing program at Kingston Yacht Club in 2002, completing my White sail III-Bronze IV. In 2005, she became a member of the KYC Race Team achieving Gold Sail VII in 2007. She sailed the Radial in 2007-08, racing with the High Performance Team. Charlotte is currently attending school in the UK, and is also a member of various clubs on the Isle of Wight. She also enjoys skiing, arts and music. Charlotte placed 3rd overall at the CYA Youth National Championships.
Samantha Rea (SYC/KYC, ON)
Samantha’s first steps were taken on her parents' boat. She started competing at the age of 12 in a Byte. She is very passionate about being on the water and has always maintained a competitive edge. Since completing her levels, she became a member of the Ontario Sailing Team. Samantha also enjoys the arts and swimming with her school team. Samantha placed 4th overall at the CYA Youth National Championships.
Neomi Lebel (EVO, QC)
Neomi attended an Opti sailing camp at the age of 7. She began to compete in sailing in the Opti, followed by the Byte and finally the Radial. Neomi also enjoys skiing and snowboarding. She is currently in college and hopes to pursue a postgraduate education in business.
Neomi placed 5th overall at the CYA Youth National Championships.
29er MALE CLASS
Eric & Alex Chouinard (Royal St-Lawrence YC, QC)
Eric & Alex both began sailing at the age of 12. In their first summer sailing, they began with a one-week program at the Royal St-Lawrence Yacht Club in the Optimist. The following summer, they took a 6-week program in which they learnt the basics of racing. They sailed the 420 for 2 months and finally decided to sail 29ers. Eric & Alex also enjoy skiing, playing tennis and guitar.
Eric & Alex qualified for the 2008 ISAF Youth World Championships and placed 20th overall.
Peter & Paul Evhert (RCYC/KYC, ON)
Peter & Paul’s sailing endeavors have been influenced by their father from a very young age. They began sailing in Opti’s and moved into the 29er. They have traveled all over the world competing in North American, South American and World Championships. Peter & Paul also play competitive hockey during the off-season which helps them develop and maintain the strength and skill set required for their sport.
Peter & Paul placed 2nd overall at the CYA Youth National Championships.
Alex Dodd & Robert Berry (RVicYC, BC)
Both Alex and Robert began sailing in an Opti and soon after joined the RVYC Junior Race Team. They both have a great passion for the sport and enjoy sailing in the 29er. They achieved great success sailing together in 2008 and look forward to their potential in the upcoming year. Alex enjoys the challenge of Akido (form of martial arts) and snowboarding. Robert is currently attending UVIC, pursuing the sciences.
Alex & Robert placed 6th overall at the CYA Youth National Championships.
29er FEMALE CLASS
Alanna Foscarini & Alison Ludzki (NYC, ON)
Alanna & Alison both have family roots in the sport of sailing. They both began racing within a year of each other and the cousins jumped at the opportunity to sail together. They have been sailing together for 3 years and hope to continue with their success in the upcoming year. When Alanna is not sailing she enjoys dance, badminton, skiing, and snowboarding. Alison enjoys soccer, running, skiing and playing the piano.
Alanna and her teammate Alison placed 4th overall at the CYA Youth National Championships.
Dana Archibald & Danielle Boyd (RNSYS,NS & KYC,ON)
Dana began sailing at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron in the ‘Learn to Sail’ program when she was about 12 years old. Danielle grew up through the junior sailing program at the Kingston Yacht Club. Some of Dana’s interests outside of sailing include guitar, skiing and soccer. Danielle enjoys snowboarding, running and theatre.
Dana and Danielle placed 1st overall at the CYA Youth National Championships.
Chantal Hearst & Amelia Leeksma (NYC, ON)
Both Chantal and Amelia had their siblings influence their participation in sailing. They both started sailing at the age of 10 and have continued their journey together traveling all over North America in pursuit of sailing excellence. Apart from their love for sailing, Amelia enjoys skiing and playing rugby. Chantal is busy studying engineering at the University of Toronto. Chantal & Amelia placed 3rd overall at the CYA Youth National Championships.
HOBIE 16
Nick Schwenger (BSBC, ON) & Amy McNeill (no info submitted)
Nick began sailing at age 7 with his father on their Hobie catamaran. He learned how to sail through crewing and club racing with his dad and a number of other people in several regattas. This past year he has sailed with two other skippers on Hobie 16's and also took the helm for a few events. Nick will be sailing with a new partner this year. Nick represented Canada at the 2008 ISAF Youth World Championships.
French version to follow
