The National Bank of Samoa (N.B.S.) has stepped in and supported Samoa's sole representative at the Youth World Sailing Championships at The Hague in the Netherlands early next month.

Sixteen-year-old sailor Elizabeth Rasch of Saoluafata and Lalomalava, Savai'i will be flying Samoa's flag as she becomes Samoa's sole representative at the Youth World Sailing Championships from 8–15 July. 

Ms. Rasch is the great grand daughter of Loau Fritz Rasch of Saoluafata and great granddaughter of Alaimoana Karl Winterstein of Lalomalava. 

World Sailing is a major sponsor of Samoa's participation in the Netherlands as part of it's Emerging Nations Program, to give competitors from developing nations the opportunity to compete in international championships. 

N.B.S. Chief Executive Officer, Sam Swann wished Ms. Rasch the best of luck in her first international competition with the bank's Acting C.E.O. Afioga Savea Michael Va'afusuaga on hand to present a SAT$4,000 cheque to the young sailor on Saturday afternoon at the Apia Yacht Club. 

Apia Yacht Club Commodore, Seiuli Ian Black, expressed his appreciation for the continuing support from the bank for the country's junior sailing development.

"Apia Yacht Club and Samoa Sailing are grateful to N.B.S. for their continuing support to Samoa's junior sailing development over the years," Seiuli said in a statement. 

"We acknowledge the support of N.B.S. to sailing in Samoa. Samoans were the great navigators of the Pacific. Apia Yacht Club wish to encourage more of Samoa’s youth to take up sailing as a sport.

"We are very pleased to see 'Elle' make her first international competition, these are the building blocks to greater competitions. 

"And we thank N.B.S. for seeing the value in what our youth do." 

According to the Commodore, the N.B.S. was also a major sponsor of Samoa’s first Olympic sailor campaign for Tokyo Olympics 2020. 

Apia Yacht Club and Samoa Sailing currently have two sailors pursuing Olympic pathways for the next Olympics in Paris in 2024.