ISAF Athlete Participation Programme

Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, Gdynia, Poland 8-17 July 2004

In 2004 the Athlete Participation Programme had a budget of £15,000, 35 people from 14 countries applied and ISAF funded 29 sailors from 14 countries, which is over 80 percent of the applicants, so ISAF were delighted with this figure considering the limited funds available.

ISAF's focus was to provide the programme to those countries who had never before participated at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship or those countries in subscription category 1 who had not previously received funding from the Athlete Participation Programme. The programme provided support in 2 main areas Entry Fee Subsidy and Travel Subsidy, however Coaching support was also available courtesy of the World Youth Sailing Trust employing the services of Jim Saltonstall, a top coach, to attend the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship. Coaching was available for all the countries participating and not just those on the Athlete Participation Programme.

The skill level of the sailors was extremely varied, with one of the girls finishing 4th overall in the Single-Handed Dinghy Girls - Laser Radial, and Bronze Medallists in the multihull - open Hobie 16. Please have a look at the table below for the full list of results.

ISAF is extremely pleased with the oportunities, success and benefits the programme offers all the sailors involved and we are very much looking forward to more of the same in Korea 2005.