Teen sailors without sponsors - doing it the hard way

9:10 PM Sat 17 Oct 2009 GMT

'Edwin - his own boat and skipper at 13, photo by Lawrence Smith' .

While some ambitious teenagers and their families wait for sponsors' funds to buy their boats, launch their websites and pay for their expensive electronics, there are other kids around the world who, like teen solo circumnavigator Zac Sunderland when he started out, save their money doing odd jobs and buy their own boat the hard way.

One of these is Edwin Delaat, from Auckland, New Zealand, who is just 13. He already has an impressive sailing resume, and saved cash doing odd jobs, buying and selling anything and everything from old boat parts to scrap metal, and bought a 7.27.metre Far 727 yacht called Crac-a-Jac, which was in a very run-down state.

Later this week Edwin will finally write his name in the sport's history books by becoming the youngest owner and skipper in New Zealand's iconic yacht race, the HSBC Coastal Classic.

The young sailor has a skipper's licence and his own marine radio call sign, plus a Boatmaster certificate and advanced sea survival qualification. He's attained all these in just three years.

But his most impressive achievement, the acquisition of his yacht, has been a near lifelong labour of love. When Edwin was just four, he told his father, Adrian, he wanted to own a boat.

When Edwin acquired the Farr 727 he said the hull resembled a 'mussel farm'. But after an extensive refit, it's now pristine, and earlier this year finished fourth (on handicap) in the Farr 727 nationals.

Edwin was, of course, skipper, ordering around three crew members, twice and three times his age. His reputation is now growing, as is his story.

Does he want to emulate the other teenagers who are gathering so much publicity with their solo journeys? Edwin says no. He enjoys being boss too much to go it alone.

The Coastal Classic starts in Auckland on Friday, and, weather permitting, finishes in Russell on Saturday morning. Edwin sailed on Starlight Express in last year's race and is a regular on board top yacht Ragtime-Infidel.

This year he has his hand on the tiller, and even though his hopes are modest ('to get to the finish line before sunrise and in one piece'), one suspects that by Saturday the youngster will have made history in his own unique way.

by Blackwattle Studios

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Teen sailors without sponsors - doing it the hard way

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