His father, Mark, won his first New Zealand yachting title in the Europe dinghy handicap championships in Akaroa this year.
''Dad got me into yachting and taught me to sail properly,'' Dylan said.
Yachting is the family sport, and Dylan and younger sister Emma (10) have joined their father at the Macandrew Bay Boating Club.
Dylan knows he has big shoes to fill as he makes his way in the sport.
He had his first taste of national competition when he finished 18th at an Optimist ranking regatta in Picton in January. He also attended a training regatta in Auckland and finished 15th in the Optimist.
Dylan's first taste of a New Zealand championships was in Timaru at Easter, when he finished 27th.
In his best races he finished second, 12th and 19th, but he was not able to sustain this form for the eight races.
He learned a valuable lesson in Timaru after finishing runner-up in his best race.
''I now know that I can perform very well. It has given me a lot of confidence.''
The New Zealand title was won by Henry Hasell, of Auckland.
Dylan's target next year is to finish in the top five at the national championships and qualify for the world championships. He would like to make the Olympics in the future.
Dylan has been a central midfielder in the Otago age group football team for the past two years but intends to concentrate on yachting this year.
''I want to travel to Auckland during the winter months to get more competition and experience,'' he said.
It will cost him about $200 a time for airfares and boat hire. He wants to attend nine winter regattas.
''I enjoy being outdoors on the water,'' he said.
''But when I am on the water I like being in control.''
FAST LANE
Name: Dylan Edwards (13).
School: King's High School.
Sports: Yachting, football.
Achievements: Yachting, 27th in New Zealand Optimist championships, 2013; football, Otago junior representative, 2011-12.
His father, Mark, won his first New Zealand yachting title in the Europe dinghy handicap championships in Akaroa this year.
''Dad got me into yachting and taught me to sail properly,'' Dylan said.
Yachting is the family sport, and Dylan and younger sister Emma (10) have joined their father at the Macandrew Bay Boating Club.
Dylan knows he has big shoes to fill as he makes his way in the sport.
He had his first taste of national competition when he finished 18th at an Optimist ranking regatta in Picton in January. He also attended a training regatta in Auckland and finished 15th in the Optimist.
Dylan's first taste of a New Zealand championships was in Timaru at Easter, when he finished 27th.
In his best races he finished second, 12th and 19th, but he was not able to sustain this form for the eight races.
He learned a valuable lesson in Timaru after finishing runner-up in his best race.
''I now know that I can perform very well. It has given me a lot of confidence.''
The New Zealand title was won by Henry Hasell, of Auckland.
Dylan's target next year is to finish in the top five at the national championships and qualify for the world championships. He would like to make the Olympics in the future.
Dylan has been a central midfielder in the Otago age group football team for the past two years but intends to concentrate on yachting this year.
''I want to travel to Auckland during the winter months to get more competition and experience,'' he said.
It will cost him about $200 a time for airfares and boat hire. He wants to attend nine winter regattas.
''I enjoy being outdoors on the water,'' he said.
''But when I am on the water I like being in control.''
FAST LANE
Name: Dylan Edwards (13).
School: King's High School.
Sports: Yachting, football.
Achievements: Yachting, 27th in New Zealand Optimist championships, 2013; football, Otago junior representative, 2011-12.
