News that Auckland will host the 2016 Youth Sailing World Championships in December, is not expected to have a great impact on the Tauranga Yacht and Boat Club at this stage, says vice commodore Nick Wrinch.

'We've got a couple of people who will be vying for an opportunity to sail in that regatta. They are still subject to YNZ selection. You basically have to make the team to get selected.

Not many Tauranga sailors are expected to compete at this year's youth worlds. Photo: Joanna Maidment.

'You have got to be good and under 18, so it's quite a narrow range, it's not an open regatta.”

The youth worlds is also restricted to certain classes of dinghies, some of which are raced at Tauranga and some aren't.

'We have got a couple that might be trying to get into the team, Jon Barnett in the 29er class. There's Coral Headey in the RSX board sailing class, but those would be out two that we hold out hopes for.”

Tauranga might also be host for overseas teams looking for a working up site away from Auckland

'It's quite possible, obviously very early days. We haven't had a chance to hear of anything like that yet.

'I wouldn't be at all surprised if some of them do, because the city's got a bit of a reputation now with Peter Burling's achievements overseas. And they are saying ‘What is this place? What goes on there, what's in the water?”

Auckland will host the Youth Worlds in conjunction with World Sailing and Yachting New Zealand from December 14 - 20.

The event is expected to attract around 400 young sailors from up to 70 nations to Auckland and bring benefit to the local community and to young sailors throughout New Zealand.

'The circumstances provided New Zealand with a unique opportunity to host the prestigious youth sailing event and we're thrilled to work together with World Sailing to deliver a fantastic event later this year,” says Yachting New Zealand chief executive David Abercrombie

'A great deal of work has gone in to ensure the success of this hosting bid and I wish to acknowledge both New Zealand Major Events and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development for their support. Without the backing of these organizations this would not be possible,” says David.

'New Zealanders are great at hosting sporting events and the sailing and boating community is among the best at it. We're a nation of yachties and boaties, we have incredible sailing waters and we have some of the best race management people in the world.

'The 2016 edition of the Youth World Championships will be quintessentially kiwi and everyone who has the privilege to come to New Zealand this December to represent their country will remember this experience for a lifetime.”

World Sailing events manager Alistair Dickson says finding a venue which can host the championship at this late stage has not been an easy task, but World Sailing is confident that Auckland is one of the few venues in the world that can turn the championship around in the few months remaining.

'World Sailing was delighted by the positive global response to our request for new venue and we are truly thankful to all nations that submitted interest.”

The 2016 selection process was re-opened in March 2016, after the Oman Sailing Committee in February exercised the right to withdraw their hosting of the event as a final contract had not been concluded.

This followed World Sailing's publishing in January of a statement on discrimination, prompted by the Malaysian ban on two Israeli sailors from the 2015 Youth Worlds in Malaysia.

Following delays in obtaining visas, the Israeli Sailing Association was informed two weeks before the event that the visas would be granted subject to conditions

Their participation was limited to the formal part of the event; they would be required to compete under the banner and flag of the ISAF (International Sailing Federation), they could not compete under an Israel flag. There was to be no display of Israeli flags logos or colours, nor would the Israel national anthem be played if they won, and there were restrictions on travel and purchases.

Israel Sailing Association informed the media on December 23 2015 that it will not permit its sailors to take part.

World Sailing's statement on discrimination follows the clarification of the non-discrimination elements of the Olympic Charter from the International Olympic Committee Summit on 17 October 2015, that, "the Summit agreed that for all competitions taking place under the auspices of an International Federation or National Olympic Committee or their continental or regional associations, it has to be ensured that all athletes from all their members can enter a country to compete and are treated equally. It was agreed that should this rule not be respected, the event in question cannot serve as a qualification event for the Olympic Games or any other championship”.

World Sailing confirms it will continue to apply this guidance strictly to all of its future World Sailing championships and explicit acceptance of these conditions will form part of the bid criteria for future events.

The Youth Worlds was first held in Sweden in 1971. The 2016 Youth Sailing World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand will be the 46th edition of the championship.