OAMPS Australian Youth Team 2008 Farewell Party
'OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team'
Yachting Australia
Background: The OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team have won selection to represent Australia in the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Denmark July 12th-18th where 60 Nations will compete. This is the pinnacle Youth Sailing Event.
The Stamford Plaza at Sydney International Airport was the venue for the farewell party. A room filled with green and gold balloons, flags and the Volvo Trophy won by last year's team for being the top performing Nation. Team leader and Athens Olympian, Kristen Kosmala commented,
'The team are taking the Volvo Trophy for a trip to Europe and back!'
Friends, family and supporters gathered to see the team off. For some, such as 29er crew Rhys Mara, this is their first trip outside of Australia. Rhys excitedly expressed how, 'I'm most excited about racing people from all over the world, there are going to be so many different Countries there. I can't wait!'
Yachting Australia's CEO, Phil Jones welcomed everyone and ran through who was present in the room. 'We have many stars gathered here including, six times Tornado World Champion, Darren Bundock and his girlfriend, Carolijn Brouwer who competes for Belgium and is the only female Tornado sailor. Carolijn is about to race her third Olympics after competing in Sydney in the 470 and Athens in the Europe Class. AST Olympic Program Manager, Rob Brown who was part of the winning '83 America's Cup Team and 18ft Skiff legend. Also of significant mention was the attendance of Janice & Kath, the mother and sister of the late Nick Peate who was to be a member of the team.
Bob Wickens, the Broking Manager of OAMPS Insurance Brokers spoke enthusiastically about OAMPS sponsorship of the team and how proud the company is to be associated with such talented sailors.
The stage was then handed over to ISAF Vice President and Yachting Australia Board Member, David Kellet who wished the team every success.
Australian Sailing Team Captain, Malcolm Page, the crew of the Men's 470 gave a fascinating speech about the situation in Qingdao, China with the algal bloom that has swamped the Olympic sailing course. 'When we first got out to China we were suffering with visibility due to the incredible thick fog. The fog cleared and the air temperature shot up which triggered this massive algal bloom almost over night. It is impossible for the boat to sail through it so Victor, our coach has to cut a path with his coach boat for us.' Malcolm went onto explain how many of the current Olympic Team had been Youth World Champions in their time and highlighting how important success at Youth level is for gaining future success.
Kristen Kosmala, the team leader called each member of the team up to the stage where they gathered for team photos and applause. The sailors were all clearly very excited about this experience.
The OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team 2008is:
Tom England (Men's RS:X) will be competing in his first Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.
Gabrielle King (Laser Radial) is the current Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Champion is going to her second Championship to defend her title.
Tom Burton (Laser) is racing his first Youth Worlds. Tom is looking forward to competing in a regatta that is as professional as this. 'I think it will be like a mini Olympics with all the Countries and the profile of the event and that is very exciting!'
Hannah Nattrass and Michelle Muller (29er Girls) won the bronze medal at last year's event and are looking to better that this year.
Byron White and Rhys Mara (29er Boys) are competing for the first time in this event but are both very strong sailors with great potential. Byron won the silver medal at the 2008 29er World Championships and Rhys won the 2008 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth National Championship.
Jason Waterhouse and his cousin Lisa Darmanin (Multihull: SL16) are racing this event as a team for the first time. Jason won bronze last year with his crew, Michael McCormick who aged out this year. The new team work wonderfully together and despite being Hobie 16 sailors and only having sailed the SL16 catamaran for 3 days during a training camp in Europe earlier this year and having to train on a 29er in Denmark due to a lack of access to any SL16's prior to the first day of racing, this team still has a very strong medal chance.
Accompanying the team to Debmark is team leader, Kristen Kosmala and coaches Larry Cargrill and David Mann.
Racing kicks off on 12th July in Aarhus in Denmark and finishes on 18th July.
Racing will be covered on the Yachting Australia website so stay tuned.
by Laura Baldwin 
Buderim, QLD
