Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, UK: The Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship was officially opened on Thursday, 13 July.  Over 280 competitors from 63 nations, helped to celebrate the beginning of an event that will see the world’s best young sailors, crowned as youth champions next Thursday.

The evening’s festivities kicked off as large crowds gathered on Weymouth seafront to watch the 63 competing team’s parade with their national flags,  led by 500 local school children.

The sailors were welcomed by several key speakers including Rod Carr, OBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Yachting Association.

 “As an organisation we are thrilled to host and organise the 2006 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, and proud that the UK has attracted a record number of nations to these championships.”  Carr explained.  “It is an honour to have sailors from around the world gather in Great Britain to compete in this, the most important world youth event.”

John Lefley, PR and Events Director for Volvo Car UK also welcomed competitors to the event and wished them the best for this week and their future sailing.

“Volvo is delighted to be sponsoring the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships here in Weymouth, UK.  Globally Volvo support sailing from the grass roots all the way up to the Volvo Ocean Race, so we are proud to be supporting the next generation of world class sailors at this marvellous event.”

President of the International Sailing Federation, Goran Petersson, had words of advice for all of the sailors sitting in the audience.  “You are all here because you are the best at what you do.  You are all talented sailors and while you are competing in Great Britain remember not only to sail your best, but to also have fun.  Sailing is a lifetime sport and it is here, with a bit of hard work that you can achieve your dreams.”

Following his inspirational speech, Petersson officially declared the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship open which was met with a round of applause and cheers from the audience.

Following welcoming speeches, the ‘Rubbish Band,’ (a group of students from Weymouth College) performed on stage, playing instruments made from recycled materials such as old oil drums and discarded street signs, in line with the events aim to be environmentally friendly.

After the raising of the ISAF flag another event tradition was honoured; the ‘mixing of the waters’ ceremony.  This traditional ceremony started some years ago with each team bringing waters from their native lakes, rivers and seas, which are then mixed together.  A team member from each country was welcomed on stage to pour their bit of water, carried through the parade in a piece of carved Portland stone, into a silver bowl.

As the water comes together, the hope is that there will be peace and friendship between all sailors at this event and also the hope that everyone will compete over the next week in the same spirit.

Once the water was combined, the youngest boy and girl competitors at the event Sarah Berry, 13, representing New Zealand in the 420 and Hobie 16 crew Kyler Hast, 14, from the United States carried the water out of the Weymouth Pavilion and poured the contents into the sea.

RS:X sailor Alvaro Galdos, 18, of Peru, the oldest competitor at the event and part of ISAF’s Athlete Participation Programme, then provided a countdown in Spanish before setting off a fantastic firework display.

With the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship officially open, sailors will now focus on the tough competition expected in the week to come, with first official race due to start on Friday 14 June 2006 with the event concluding on Thursday 20 June.