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This nautical teen will be the youngest skipper to compete in the HSBC Premier Coastal Classic yacht race. Debrin Foxcroft catches up with the keen sailor.

Edwin Delaat sleeps, eats and sails. It is an incredible intensity of focus for a 13-year-old boy. This Labour Weekend he will be the youngest skipper yet to compete in the HSBC Premier Coastal Classic yacht race.

On a boat since he was a year old, Edwin loves being on the water. "I sail as long as it is light out," says the Year 8 student at Liston College.

"I have always loved it. Sailing gives a great feeling. But I have had my 'Jesus' moments. Like when we had 45-knot squalls on the nose and we were fully tipped over." Or when an orca fell in love with his boat, he says.

"At those times I just have to relax, keep talking to people, reminding myself that I'm still here, I haven't gone yet."

Edwin is skipper on his own boat, Crac-A-Jac. He saved and raised money for the 7.27m vessel, investing quite a bit of time restoring and repairing the boat once it was his.

On top of taking charge of his own crew, he has also worked on a number of other yachts.

Edwin says he talked his way into becoming a crew member on Ragtime/Infidel for the Round White Island Ocean Race in November. He was also in the Infidel crew for the Auckland Anniversary Regatta, the Round Kawau Island Race, Classic Yacht Regatta and the Millennium Cup.

At just 9 years old, Edwin received his VHF Marine Operator's Licence and won the "Captain Mike Little Award". It was the first time the award was given to a child.

Last year, he completed the Coastguard Northern Region Recruit Intake Programme and became one of the youngest to pass the boat masters exam. This year, he passed the exam in advanced sea survival.

Crac-a-Jac is expected to be one of the smallest boats sailing from Auckland to Russell in the HSBC race.

The largest boat is more than 30m-long. The race is 119 nautical miles and, although larger boats can do the course in seven or eight hours, smaller boats, such as Edwin's, can take two days to cover the course.

According to his dad, Adrian Delaat, Edwin has prepared for the race by plotting out his route.

"For the coastal classic, Edwin has spent several days setting out navigation," he says.

Edwin hopes one day to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race, formerly known as the Whitbread Round the World Race. For now, he is happy to compete around New Zealand.

"My life is sailing."