Help a NZ girls sailing team get to Japan to represent New Zealand at the 420 Worlds Championship - Karatsu, Japan – July 2015

Chelsea Rees and Kerensa Jennings have been selected by Yachting New Zealand to represent New Zealand at the 420 Worlds Sailing Championship in Karatsu, Japan in July this year.

After a successful season, this youth girls 420 sailing team gained selection after placing 3rd overall (combined boy/girl fleet) in the Sail Auckland ISAF (International Sailing Federation) Regatta in March and two weeks later finishing 5th at the week-long NZ 420 Nationals Championship Regatta in Lyttelton (Christchurch, South Island). They have also consistently placed as New Zealand’s top female youth sailing team in 420s throughout the summer season.

Since April (i.e. the end of summer in New Zealand), Chelsea and Kerensa have been under a rigorous training schedule; sailing two-three times per week (after school and weekends) including several full weekend training sessions as part of Yachting New Zealand’s High Performance Youth Programme. This is a big commitment for the girls as the winter weather gets colder and the days get shorter - but they are determined to get as much time on the water as possible to prepare/train.

It will be summer in Japan for this 420 Worlds Sailing Championship Regatta. The girls will be sailing with approximately 80 female teams representing the top twenty sailing nations from around the globe. Over the week-long event, they will be sailing two – three races per day (depending on the weather), and typically will be on the water for about five hours per day. For this regatta, Chelsea and Kerensa (along with three other NZ teams) will be supported by a Yachting New Zealand appointed sailing coach – James Turner.

Chelsea and Kerensa will arrive in Japan ten days prior to the 420 Worlds event in order to practice sailing in the local conditions and take part in the two-day 420 Pre-Worlds Sailing Regatta. This means that their total time spent in Karatsu, Japan will be 19 days/nights.

Overall costs for this trip is approximately $7,000 per person excluding the expenses paid for by Yachting New Zealand (eg coach costs) and the NZ 420 Association (eg regatta entrance fee).

Due to their rigorous training schedule prior to leaving NZ for this event in July, Chelsea and Kerensa have limited options in terms of other fundraising methods for this trip as their studies and school work remain a priority when they are not sailing (as you can imagine). Therefore, any ‘little bit’ anyone can provide in support of this adventure and important step in each of Chelsea and Kerensa’s sailing careers, will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks very much and if you can’t contribute financially, please help by spreading the word to anyone and everyone!