Millfield Prep Siblings on Pathway to Sailing Success
by Holly Cheetham 12 Dec 2020 06:39 NZDT
Millfield Prep sailors Maia (left) and Noelle Delin © Millfield Prep School
Millfield Prep School pupils Maia and Noelle Delin have been selected for regional sailing pathways. Maia has been accepted into the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Regional Training Group whilst her sister Noelle will train as part of the SW Regional Optimists Squad.
Year 8 pupil Maia races a double-handed RS Feva competitively with Millfield student Vanja Ramm-Ericson. They are currently ranked as twice National Champions for Malta in 2018 and 2019, were winners of both the Junior and Ladies European Championships in Le Havre in 2019 and placed third junior overall at the World Championships in Follonica Italy 2019, with Maia being the youngest sailor to win this title, at age 11.
The duo are currently training towards the postponed 2020 Championships, which will now be held in the summer of 2021 in Lübecker Yacht Club in Travemunde. Maia's selection into the RYA Regional Training Group will allow her the opportunity to develop skills at an appropriate stage through world class coaching and support.
Year 6 Noelle has been sailing at optimist class level competitively for two years, racing at the international event Euromed 2018 as a novice sailor aged eight and competing at club and national level. Noelle has been selected by the Royal Yachting Association to join the SW Regional squad and will compete at the selector events next year. She currently sails at Weymouth, as well as Bowmoor Yacht Club with their optimist fleet.
The siblings, who are both boarders at Millfield Prep, have been sailing since the age of seven and five. They have continued their passion for sailing after moving back to the UK last summer from Malta, where they had been living for the past seven years.
Maia, who began boarding in September 2019, was joined by Noelle in September this year along with their younger twin siblings Ella and Jonah who are in Millfield Pre-Prep. They also both sail recreationally and swim. Ella started sailing aged four and competed for the Optimist Youth team aged six. Jonah sails recreationally and is a keen swimmer.
Millfield Prep sailors train at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy as part of the Andrew Simpson Foundation, following the RYA syllabus. Pupils are in training for upcoming regattas and are challenged based on where their strengths lie.
Mother of the children, Amanda Delin says, "A massive draw for us moving back to the UK was Millfield sport offerings as well as of course the excellent academic programme. The combination of the sailing programme and flexibility for training alongside the swimming has allowed our family a seamless move back to the UK. Our children are able to continue to enjoy the sports they are passionate about."