Story contributed by Darrelle Eng

Elizabeth Yin Sailing

Elizabeth Yin of Singapore has a small six point lead over Anne-Marie Rindom of Denmark in the girls’ Laser class as the Volve youth sailing world championships reaches its final day. (Photo 1 © Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race)

Brazil, Friday, July 17, 2009 – As the sailors enter the final race on the last day of competition tomorrow, Singapore has achieved its best Volvo Trophy standing to date. The local sailors have put Singapore in seventh place for the Volvo Trophy, an improvement from the 10th-placed finish in 2006.

France secured the Volvo Trophy to emerge champions for the 10th time.

The host nation Brazil, along with Hong Kong and New Zealand, all secured gold medals whilst France is uncatchable in the Volvo Trophy standings following a bright and breezy day six at the 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Buzios.

Brazilian Girl's 420 crew Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze, Hong Kong windsurfer Hei Mei Chan and Laser Radial star Sam Meech of New Zealand have all established unbeatable leads with one race day remaining in Buzios.

In contrast, the battle for gold is set to go down to the wire in four other events, with just one race to go in Buzios tomorrow. Australia, France, Great Britain and Singapore currently hold the top spots.

The Laser Radial Girl's event is heading for a close finish as Elizabeth Yin of Singapore holds on the overall lead on 23 points. However, Anne-Marie Rindom (Denmark) is just six points behind her in second after performing strongly in today's "really cool conditions". Isabella Bertold (Canada) completes the top three on 36 points. Both Mathilde De Kerangat (France) and Heidi Tenkanen (Finland) were extremely fast in today's breezier conditions but suffered a major setback when they were caught over the line early in the second race.

The current results as of now of the local contingent at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship is as follows –

420 boys – Justin Liu & Sherman Cheng – 4th position out of 31 boats

420 girls – Griselda Khng & Cecilia Low – 4th position out of 24 boats

Laser Radial – Elizabeth Yin – 1st position out of 38 boats

Hobie 16 – Aaron Pan & Peter Wong – 12th position out of 17 boats

RSX Windsurfing Boys – Leonard Ong – 19th position out of 24 boats

Today is lay day and racing will resume tomorrow.

For more information and updates on the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, please click here.