The future of New Zealand sailing will be on show later this month when Manly Sailing Club hosts the 2025 PredictWind New Zealand Youth Championships. Running from 20–24 September, the event brings together the country’s best under-19 sailors and doubles as the official selection trial for the New Zealand Youth Sailing Team.
For many competitors, this is where lifelong sailing journeys take flight. From club coaching sessions and regional regattas, they now step onto a national stage that has produced Olympians, offshore campaigners, and professional sailors.
Pathways that shape champions
At the core of the Championships are the Olympic pathway dinghy classes: the ILCA 6, 29er, and 420. These fleets demand tactical sharpness, endurance, and teamwork. Among the entries are rising names such as Sam Clarke and Tom Pilkington in the ILCA, the Kensington brothers in the 29er, and Amber Hughes with Phoebe Willis in the 420. With ten to twelve races per class, the pressure will be relentless.
Foiling futures
Adding a modern edge are the foiling board divisions: iQFOiL 8m, Formula Kite, and Wingfoil. Olympic windsurfing hopefuls like Finn Davies and Ben Rist will line up in the iQFOiL fleet, while Hugo Appleby of Worser Bay and New Caledonia’s Martin Bouchet bring international flavour to wingfoiling. Though still outside the Youth Worlds pathway, these fleets represent the sport’s fast-changing future.
Building from the grassroots
The entry lists reflect the strength of New Zealand’s sailing community. Clubs such as Manly, Murrays Bay, Wakatere, Kohimarama, and Glendowie are all represented, underlining how youth development remains rooted in volunteer-driven coaching and family support.
This weekend’s Yachting New Zealand Coaches Regatta will serve as the final warm-up, giving competitors one last chance to fine-tune before the Youth Championships begin.
It’s all about Tradeaboat
For Tradeaboat, the Youth Championships highlight the full circle of boating life. These young sailors cut their teeth in dinghies and foiling boards, but their passion will carry forward into the boats our readers know best — trailer yachts, cruisers, offshore racers, and bluewater passagemakers.
Tomorrow’s buyers, sellers, and owners are on the water today, learning the skills and building the dreams that fuel New Zealand’s boating economy. The regatta is not only about medals and national selection, it’s about the next generation discovering what boats can do — and how far they can take them.