The action on Sydney Harbour is set to heat up this summer following the announcement of the Australian sailing athletes competing at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) from 18th – 20th January, 2007.

The AYOF is an initiative of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and will be the fourth event of its kind since its inception in 2001. This is the first time competitors aged between 13 – 19 years of age in the sport of sailing have been offered the opportunity to experience the Olympic atmosphere.

Olympian (2000 & 2004), Jenny Armstrong has been appointed Sailing Ambassador for the AYOF07.

Armstrong commented “The AYOF07 is an excellent window of opportunity for young athletes, especially our Australian athletes, to experience an environment similar to that of the Olympic Games. It aims to inspire and foster young talent so they continue to strive further in their chosen sport”.

The Australian athletes were selected by their Member Yachting Association based on their outstanding performances. Some of the talented young athletes include 2006 ISAF World Youth Champions, Belinda Kerl and Chelsea Hall (WA) and 2006 Marinassess Women’s Match Racing Champion, Lucinda Whitty (NSW).

The Australian sailing athletes are listed below by State:

South Australia:
Luke Hookings – Port Lincoln SA 5606
Georgina Kemp – Port Lincoln SA 5606
Trent Neighbour - Kingscote SA 5223
Davin Conigrave - Goolwa SA 5214
Jasmin Boyce – Port Lincoln SA 5606
Grace Stokes - Prospect SA 5082

Victoria:
Emma Phillips - Sorrento VIC 3943
Max Taylor - Brighton VIC 3186
Amy Kivell - Mentone VIC 3194
Sam Kivell - Mentone VIC 3194
Ben Gunther - Brighton VIC 3186
Jacqueline Gurr – Aspendale Gardens VIC 3195 

Tasmania:
Jess Atherton – Kingston Beach TAS 7050
Lauren Holloway - Taroona TAS 7053
Lucy Shephard – Sandy Bay TAS 7005
David Fletcher – West Launceston TAS 7250
Michael Symonds – East Wynyard TAS 7325

Western Australia:
Belinda Kerl – Mosman Park WA 6012
Chelsea Hall – Shoalwater Bay WA 6169
David Gilmour - Cottesloe WA 6011
Luke Parkinson - Beaconsfield WA 6162
Nadia Punselie - Nedlands WA 6009
Peter Nicholas - Floreat WA 6014

New South Wales:
Edward Quartly – Northbridge NSW 2063
Lachlan Doyle - Killara NSW 2071
Kieran Searle - Palmers Island NSW 2463
Amelia Taylor - Bayview NSW 2104
Lucinda Whitty - Longueville NSW 2066
Kimberly Wilmot - Bilgola Plateau NSW 2107

Queensland:
Klade Hauschildt - Noosaville QLD 4566
Ryan Stoddart – Murrumba Downs QLD 4503
Nick Peate - Southport QLD 4215
Erin Gallagher - Ormiston QLD 4160
Renee McCall - Yeppoon QLD 4703
Kerin Callard - Yeppoon QLD 4703

35 sailors from six Australian states will compete in the team racing event. In addition, teams from Great Britain, New Zealand, USA, France and Canada have been invited to join the Australian competitors for three days of intense racing with the final day having the top teams fight it out for the medals on offer.

Team racing utilises an S shaped course with each match made up of six boats. Each race is approximately 10 minutes in time and then the next six teams hit the start line. Competitors will be using the two person Pacer dinghy and the teams swap boats each time they race thereby enabling fair competition.

AOC