RYA Volvo Team GBR
VITAL STATISTICS…
Name:
Maria (Mimi) El-Khazindar
Class:
29er
Position:
Helm
Sailing Partner:
Ben Batten
DOB:
14 May 1997
Born:
London
Currently Living:
Lymington
School:
Hampshire Collegiate School, Romsey
Sailing Club:
Royal Lymington Yacht Club
Started Sailing:
At the sailing club near my grandparents’ house
at the age of 7
Why did you
choose sailing:
My older brother sailed and I wanted to follow in
his footsteps
Coach:
Ian Martin and Steve Irish
What Squads do
you belong to:
RYA National Youth Squad
Who inspired you
to start sailing:
My family, especially my brother, my aunt and
my uncle
Greatest Strength
in Sailing:
Tactics, fast learner
Greatest
Weakness in
sailing:
Heavy wind gybes...
Aims for the ISAF
Youth Worlds:
To medal
Aims for the next
12 months:
To do well in the summer events and continue to
improve my sailing
Ultimate goal:
Go to the Olympic Games and win a medal for
GBR
Greatest
achievement
outside of sport:
Sailed from Lymington to Weymouth in the
summer of 2010 in my Optimist, camping along
the way with 9 other friends
Interest outside of
sailing:
Cooking, skiing, travelling and hanging out with
friends
Most influential
person in your
sailing career :
My Mum
Top sailing
achievements:
2013 RYA 29er Youth National Champion
2011 Female Optimist National Champion
Qualified for Optimist Europeans Team in 2011
2011 Southern Optimist Champion