Sailing: Kiwi sisters sailing with divided loyalties

Sisters Kate, left, and Greta Stewart are competing at the youth world championships. Photo / Supplied

The Stewart sisters don't really know where their loyalties lie when it comes to next year's America's Cup with father Ian part of the Oracle team this time around but they know exactly what flag they are racing for at this week's 2016 Aon Youth Sailing World Championships in Auckland.

Kate (18) and Greta (16) are part of a 13-strong New Zealand team competing at the youth world championships off Torbay. The pair claimed bronze in the 29er skiff in Malaysia at the last world event and are a strong medal chance when sailing gets under way on Friday.

Ian was a member of Emirates Team New Zealand at the last America's Cup but has since joined Oracle's on-shore team for next year's campaign. It meant the Stewarts shifted to Bermuda last year, where the next America's Cup will be sailed, and it has come with benefits - they live on the water's edge and the sisters launch from in front of their house whenever they go training.

The pair also have the advantage of being in 'home' waters for the youth world championships, having grown up sailing off Murray's Bay, and Kate said the key for their regatta will be how well the sisters gel on the water.

"We always sail well when we're happy and getting along and having fun; trying to keep a relaxed vibe.

"We are quite different when in regattas to just hanging around at home. There's a more serious vibe."

The Stewarts are one of two sets of sisters in the New Zealand team - 16-year-old twins Courtney and Brianna Reynolds-Smith are competing in the girl's 420 - and are among New Zealand's main medal hopes, along with boy's Laser Radial sailor George Gautrey, who claimed silver at the last world championships, and Jackson Keon, who picked up bronze in the 29er in 2015 but who has switched to the multihull Nacra 15 with Tom Fyfe.

The youth world championships will see more than 380 sailors from 66 nations under the age of 19 compete across international youth sailing classes including the 29er skiff, Laser Radial, RS:X, 420 and Nacra 15 over five days of racing at the Torbay Sailing Club (Dec 16-20).

New Zealand has enjoyed good success since the first youth world championships in 1971, having won 50 medals. Past Kiwi winners have included Chris Dickson, Russell Coutts, Blair Tuke and Dean Barker.

Yachting New Zealand talent development manager Ian Neely says his team are as ready as they will ever be.

"I'm happy with how they are sailing coming into it. I feel like they have done the work they can do and are as prepared as they can be.

"It comes down to whether they can perform to their ability with all the added pressures of the other nations at a big event, living in combined accommodation and whether they can still stay relaxed enough and be excited about the event.

"Having been to one of these events before helps and having been successful at one before can cause a problem because they now have expectations, so it's just managing that as well. Having success last year and coming on home turf is a pretty significant challenge."

It's one the Stewart sisters are ready for before settling on who they will support at the next America's Cup.