Poland to host 2019 Youth Sailing Worlds

World Sailing has selected Gdynia, Poland to host the 2019 Youth Sailing World Championships.

Known as Poland’s sailing capital, Gdynia is a dynamic, modern city with experience in running large scale events. The 2019 Youth Worlds will be held out of Marina Gdynia which is close to the city centre and offers excellent sailing and recreational facilities.

Gdynia has hosted a number of international regattas in recent years, including the 2004 edition of the Youth Worlds, 470 and Laser European Championships as well as Volvo Gdynia Sailing Days, attracting thousands of participants and spectators.

Bid partners, the Polish Yachting Association and the City of Gdynia, bring together proven experience in hosting large scale events with the regatta to take place from July 13-20, 2019.

Alistair Dickson, World Sailing Events Manager, said, “With experience of hosting high calibre sailing events, Gdynia is a perfect fit to hold the 2019 edition of the sports premier event for young sailors.

“Excellent on-shore facilities in a great location coupled with a good breeze in July will ensure the delivery of a fantastic all-round championship. World Sailing look forward to working with the Polish Yachting Association and the City of Gdynia.”

An Evaluation Panel received presentations for potential hosts of the 2019 Youth Worlds in February 2016 from the following venues:

• Gdynia, Poland
• Lelystad, The Netherlands
• Shanghai, China

The Panel made their recommendation to World Sailing’s Executive Committee who unanimously endorsed the recommendation. The selection of Gdynia is subject to a successful site visit and satisfactory contractual arrangements.

Preceding the 2019 event, the 2017 edition will be hosted by Acre, Israel with the 2018 event to be held in Corpus Christi (TX), USA. The 2016 event was to be hosted by Oman which recently withdrew when unable to guarantee full and equal participation by all, in accordance with World Sailing’s Regulations.

Event website: http://www.isafyouthworlds.com/home.php

About the Youth Worlds
The Youth Worlds was first held in Sweden in 1971. Past notable winners include American’s Cup skippers, Chris Dickson (NZL), Russell Coutts (NZL), Dean Barker (NZL); Olympic medallists, Nathan Outteridge (AUS), Iain Jensen (AUS), Robert Scheidt (BRA), Amelie Lux (GER), Ben Ainslie (GBR), Iain Percy (GBR), Alessandra Sensini (ITA), Elise Rechichi (AUS) and Tessa Parkinson (AUS); Volvo Ocean Race sailors like Stuart Bannatyne (NZL) and Richard Clarke (CAN).

The most successful Youth World Champions are Great Britain’s Sally Cuthbert and Poland’s Zofia Klepacka having won four successive titles in the Laser II and Mistral respectively.

Australia is the current holder of the Nations Trophy, awarded annually to the top performing nation at the Youth Worlds. France is the most successful nation through the history of the Championship, winning the Nations Trophy on a record 12 occasions and holding a record 76 medals: 28 gold, 30 silver and 18 bronze.

Source: World Sailing, Scuttlebutt