The most talented young sailors in the world will set sail from Lunenburg Yacht Club this summer, for a week-and-a-half of intense competition from July 18 to 27. More than 250 top sailors under the age of 19 will compete in the 2002 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, making it the biggest sailing event in North America this summer. Forty countries are sending sailors, who will race in Lasers, Bytes, Mistral sailboards and the Canadian-made two-handed performance craft, the 29er, which is making its world youth championship debut this year. Canada last hosted the world youth sailing championships in Montreal in 1989.

This year's championship is being organized locally by World Youth Sailing Canada 2002 Ltd, with the welcome assistance of scores of volunteers. Numerous members of the Atlantic Marine Trades Association (AMTA) have risen to the challenge and taken key positions on the organizing committee. Jim Mosher, President of Scotia Trawler, is Race Director for the event, responsible for all aspects of the competition itself. Lunenburg sailmaker Michele Stevens is chairing the accommodations committee. Front Harbour Marine's Tom Dauphinee and Ann Bailly are organizing course support boats, while Jim Snair of Sunnybrook Yacht Brokers is in charge of VIP and sponsor boats. In addition to these members' volunteer efforts, they are providing in-kind support to the championships through their companies.

Other AMTA member organizations supporting the 2002 world youth sailing championships so far include: Yamaha Motor Canada, which has come on board as a sponsor, and North Sails Atlantic, official sailmaker for the competition. AMTA is proud of the effort and support its members are putting into the 2002 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.

For more information about the 2002 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, contact Executive Director Ida Scott at (902) 634-4498 or [email protected]