• Rome Featherstone’s off to the World Youth Sailing Championships after acing it at the nationals.

WHEN 13-year-old Rome Featherstone saw the hundreds of sailors he’d be up against in his first Australian Youth Championships in January he almost abandoned ship.

But he overcame his nerves and by the end of the five-day regatta at Mornington Peninsula, Rome was ranked the fifth best under-16 optimist class sailor in Australia and the best sailor at the competition.

Not bad for a kid who only took to the water at the Fremantle Sailing Club two years ago.

“I was hoping I’d get in the top 25, but when I saw all the people, I thought maybe top 50,” Rome told the Herald. “A lot of them have been competing and training around the world in Europe and Asia. So to finish top five was really good.”

Rome only made the “epic” car crossing of the Nullarbor after his mum Tikki Surman—a self-confessed average country sailor—decided he should have a crack.

Rome says 15 solo races over five days left him exhausted.

“I was getting tired by the end of it,” he said. “After the last race I was so tired I didn’t even celebrate, I went straight to bed.”

Rome has now qualified for the Australian team competing at the World Youth Sailing Competition in Argentina later this year.

But the Waldorf School student is realistic about his chances. Each of the 45 countries participating will put up their best 25 sailors. The best any Aussie has got before is 20th.

“I don’t know how I’ll go, but it’s going to be really good fun,” he said.

by BRENDAN FOSTER