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Youth Development and High Performance Pathway

Contents

4 The Youth Recreational Sailing Pathway

5 Introduction

6 The Yachting Australia Junior / Youth Strategy

7 The Junior Learn To Sail Pathway

11 The Youth Development Pathway

13 Junior Classes

14 Junior Class Specifications

16 Youth Class Specifications

18 Making The Right Decision

19 When Do I Make The Move?

21 Other Yachting Australia Recommended Classes

22 Some Tips To Be The Best You Can Be

25 Appendices

26 State Association Contact Details

3YACHTING AUSTRALIA // Youth Development and High Performance Pathway

This Youth Development and High Performance Pathway is for youth sailors who want to progress beyond their own clubs coaching program, to the state development programs and high performance levels on the Yachting Australia Sailing Pathway. It is based on the Yachting Australia Youth Development Strategy which has four principal objectives;

■ Promote Club and Class based coaching programs as the primary vehicle for the retention of participants, and skill development.

■ Ensure a strong and effective High Performance Program, that integrates with State Development Programs.

■ Develop qualified coaches to support all levels of coaching programs.

■ Deliver high levels of competition through selected key events.

We are confident this strategic approach supports the structure and delivery of club and State coaching programs in Australia, and plays a major part in supporting performance pathways for all young Australian sailors.

An effective youth pathway is important to enable Australia to remain internationally competitive in sailing.

We would like to thank the Yachting Australia Youth Committee, representing all of the States and Territories, for its role in producing these guidelines.

We hope you enjoy reading the booklet and it goes some way to guiding you, or someone you know, on their own pathway to High Performance Sailing.

Phil Jones CEO Yachting Australia

Nick Hutton Chair Yachting Australia

Peter Conde High Performance Director

Ross Kilborn Sport Development Director

Dear Sailor, Parent, Supporter and Coach,

The Youth Development and High Performance Pathway is a publication of Yachting Australia Inc. Level 1 22 Atchison St. St.Leonards NSW 2065 www.yachting.org.au

Youth Development Committee

4 YACHTING AUSTRALIA // Youth Development and High Performance Pathway

JUNIOR PARTICIPATION THE LEARN TO SAIL PATHWAY

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INTRODUCTION YACHTING AUSTRALIA

This information is for junior and youth sailors, looking to progress and develop as sailors.

It also provides an excellent resource for parents, club officials and coaches on how best to assist young sailors in their development. It is particularly focussed on identifying the correct boats for junior and youth sailors who want to progress beyond their club coaching program to the higher levels of the Sailing Pathway.

As with most sports there is an easy starting point and progress is made in simple, easy steps on a pathway. This information also explains some of the early steps, especially for sailors and parents with no previous involvement in sailing.

Completing all of the entry steps is vital to ensure young people have the best basic skills development for their long term involvement. This is outlined in the first section, the Junior Sailing Pathway.

Many young sailors will be happy to just participate at a club level, once they have learnt to sail and race and some will be happy to sail recreationally. Others may become Instructors, Coaches or Race Officials and even undertake

studies in order to pursue a vocation in sailing and boating.

The Youth Development Pathway is for those who aspire to be more competent club racers, and who would love to become State, National, World or Olympic champions.

The subsequent sections of these guidelines are focussed on youth, young people of secondary school age. Young people who progress beyond their club coaching programs will be of secondary school age. Primary school age children (juniors) focus should be on less competitive participation.

These guidelines also outline the International Junior Classes that are part of the Pathway to the ISAF International Youth Classes.

If after reading this booklet you still have questions please talk to your Club Coach or your State High Performance Coach, or contact your State or Territory Association.

Introduction


Yachting Australia is the peak body for sailing in Australia. Its members are the State and Territory Associations whose members in turn are sailing and boating clubs.

As the peak body for the sport of sailing three of Yachting Australia’s key roles are:

■ Participation Help clubs attract new members by providing appropriate learn to sail and entry programs. Our priority is juniors of ages 7-12 yr through the Tackers Program.

■ Development Help clubs retain members by providing appropriate pathways including coaching programs that develop sailors and assist their sailing success and for youth, selection in State Development programs. These Guidelines focus on youth retention through development.

■ High Performance Assist youth sailors who aspire to national, and international success, the Australian Sailing Team, and ultimately the Olympics, to achieve their goals.

Put simply, Yachting Australia’s objective is to achieve a lot more people sailing safely at all levels on the pathway:

■ More people sailing.

■ More sailors continually improving their skills in Coaching Programs at Clubs.

■ More Australians succeeding in National, International Championships and the Olympics.

The Yachting AustraliaJunior / Youth Strategy

THE YACHTING AUSTRALIA JUNIOR / YOUTH STRATEGY


People can learn to sail in any type of boat, though most clubs will use types more suited to beginners. More important than the type of boat is the pathway for learning, and the skills, confidence and enjoyment as a result of that learning.

To simplify these steps Yachting Australia provides the Sailing Pathway, and Learn to Sail programs in both dinghies, and keelboats. The first three steps are Learn to Sail courses at increasing levels of skill.

For primary school age children there is a program called Tackers, which is specifically designed to meet the needs of young children, aged 7-12, wanting to get into sailing. Tackers programs are run at a number of sailing clubs and follow the same pathway and syllabi as the Dinghy Program. For more information on Tackers and the clubs that run the program go to www.discoversailing.org.au/tackers. Some clubs will run similar junior programs using the Yachting Australia Dinghy Program and using qualified Yachting Australia Instructors.

The first six levels of the Junior / Youth Pathway, are all undertaken by Clubs and are in Dinghies.

They are:

Step 1 – Introduction to Sailing

Start Sailing 1 & 2 (about 24 hours of tuition)

For juniors, Tackers 1 – Having Fun

Step 2 – Better Sailing

(12 hours of tuition)

For juniors Tackers 2 – Tricks & Techniques (20 hours)

Step 3 – Learn to Race

Start Racing 1 & 2 (about 24 hours of tuition)

For juniors Tackers 3 – Sailing Fast! (20 hours)

This is an important step that often gets missed. Many people are eager to jump straight into club racing, which can be intimidating for a new sailor. Learning to race is a vital step in developing skills, knowledge and confidence.

And of course along the way, like in all sports there should be plenty of practice between lessons of the skills being learned. For juniors in Tackers this is Tackers Fleet – lots of practice delivered in the same fun and games based approach.

Step 4 – Introductory Club Racing

Once confident in the skills learnt in the Learn to Race program the next step is Introductory Racing, or for juniors this is referred to as Green Fleet. It is important not to try to progress too quickly. Consolidating skills and techniques in the Green Fleet is a vital part of a successful long term sailing career.

What is Introductory Club Racing or Green Fleet?

■ Fun and friendly racing.

■ Being provided assistance and advice during racing.

Junior Participation The Learn to Sail Pathway




■ Using the Introductory Rules of Sailing, rather than the full rules.

■ Competing against people of a similar ability.

■ Taking time to improve your skills.

More details about Green Fleet and Introductory Racing appear on www.yachting.org.au/greenfleet under Participation.

Through the Learn To Sail and Race Program the sailing club has probably provided the boats. Most clubs will continue to make boats available at this level so there is no need to make a decision about buying a boat.

Step 5 – Club Racing

Once enough skill, experience and confidence is gained at Step 4, the next move is into club racing. Clubs generally run races on a Saturday or Sunday through the main sailing season of October to May. Of course at this point another option is to sail recreationally.

The first five steps of the Sailing Pathway are the same for juniors, youth and adults.

While some clubs will make boats available at this level, it is also time to consider buying a boat. There are a huge number of types of boats (called Classes) to choose from. But if there is a likelihood to progress much further up the Pathway, select one of the types of boat outlined later in this booklet – International Classes.

Crewing on a two handed boat now also becomes an option at level 5. Having acquired all the skills in the Learn to Sail Program, and

practiced in Introductory Racing, crewing with someone else is a great option. It means you will be sailing with a friend, in a team, and you may not necessarily need to own a boat.

Step 6 – Club/Class Coaching Program

Once participating in club racing it’s time to think about further improving skills and progressing to the front of the club fleet, or beyond club racing and to higher levels on the Sailing Pathway.

At this point you should enrol in your Club or preferred class coaching program. Coaching is delivered at Clubs by Qualified Yachting Australia Coaches. Unlike the Learn to Sail steps that are delivered to a syllabus in a class, Coaching focusses on the needs of the individual in small groups.

Coaching programs are often split into different groups, gold, silver and bronze for example, so the level of coaching can be tailored to the ability of the sailors. The gold or top group usually caters for those sailors who are attending National Championships. Again the idea is to progress up the ladder in little steps with lots of practice in between.

Looking ahead at this stage is sensible, as deciding on the class of boat to progress to can lead you in a number of different directions. If international championships are your dream you need to start sailing in one of the internationally recognised classes. They are also where you will get the best competition in Australia.

For juniors this is either the single-handed International Optimist or Laser 4.7. Both of these



are International Classes. There are also several junior – youth transition classes that are double-handed including the International Cadet, the Pacer and the Flying 11, depending on which State you are in.

Moving on to youth classes there are a number of options depending on your physical attributes, age, strengths and weaknesses. For a single-handed sailor at youth level there is the Laser Radial for females and males. The Laser is sailed at the Olympics, the Radial by women and the larger Standard by men. Double-handed classes for youth are 420 and 29er, and there is also the Bic Techno sailboard and the Hobie 16 catamaran. These are all feeder classes for Olympic competition and are sailed at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships. All these classes are explained in more detail in the next section of this booklet.

In each State there are also a number of major regattas to participate in that encourage entrants from all clubs. These events provide an excellent opportunity to participate in class based fleet racing. More details can be found on the calendar on your State Yachting Association site. There is also the Australian Youth Sailing Grand Prix – details of which can be found on the Yachting Australia website www.yachting.org.au

Junior – Youth Options

Once a youth sailor has attained competence at Level 6, or indeed for some at level 4 or 5 they also face a variety of pathway options besides recreationally sailing or the youth development pathway.

These include:

■ International Competition, in either dinghies or keelboats. In dinghies this is conducted in Classes recognised by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), as outlined in these Guidelines.

■ Crewing on keelboats, which provides a higher level of adventure and requires additional skills, especially in safety such as is provided in the Yachting Australia Safety and Sea Survival Course.

■ Officiating as either an Instructor or Race Official. Becoming involved in helping others in the sport is a rewarding pathway many sailors chose to pursue and for which there are a variety of courses and pathways. This could be running club racing (Club Officials Course) or teaching other people to sail (Instructor and later Coach Courses and Pathways). The Instructor Pathway is especially attractive to young sailors who can usually earn some part time income, once they have attained their Instructor qualification.

■ Vocational training and employment in one of the above pathways is increasingly attractive to people looking to embrace the sailing lifestyle as their occupation. There are several secondary and tertiary institutes in Australia offering qualifications in marina management, boating and resort management. The RYA – Yachting Australia Training Program offers a variety of courses that are recognised internationally.



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The YouthDevelopment Pathway

THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY

For youth, wanting to compete at the highest levels internationally the pathway is clear and for those who want to enjoy the support of Government and Yachting Australia, the selection of boat and the pathway is explained in the following pages.

Step 7 – State Development Squads

Beyond Level 6 - Club Coaching, the State and Territory Associations select the best potential youth sailors to be part of a Youth Development Squad or Team. This level is only conducted in the International Youth Classes. Each State will have criteria by which youth sailors are selected to be part of these teams or squads. Normally these criteria will include past results, demonstrated potential and commitment to the level of training to succeed at the national level. Whilst specific programs vary from State to State, most programs provide higher level coaching, training camps, and access to sport sciences. In addition to on-water training and competition, athletes are expected to undertake strength and conditioning programs and commit to nurturing a lifestyle and diet consistent with that required to be internationally competitive. More information can be found by contacting your State High Performance Program coach.

Step 8 – State High Performance Programs – Partnering with State Institute/Academy

All States have a link to their State Institute/Academy of Sport, which is managed in conjunction with the Yachting Australia High Performance Program. This level of achievement provides access to the expertise of the State Institutes and selection is based on strict performance criteria set by Yachting Australia in consultation with the State Institutes. Sailors at this level are also exposed to formal Yachting Australia National Teams and coaching through high level performances at National Championships enabling them to be selected for the Australian Youth Sailing Team for Youth World Sailing Championships, attendance at the National Youth Camp and support via the Youth Bridging Program to help outstanding youth and recent youth sailors compete internationally to qualify for the next level of the pathway.

More information on this step can be obtained by contacting the State High Performance Program coach in your state.


THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY

Step 9 – Australian Sailing Squad – (ASS)

Yachting Australia selects the top performing sailors in Olympic classes to be part of the ASS. The athletes selected are identified as having the potential to reach the next

Olympics and future Games within 3-7 years. They form a squad with the depth of talent to provide Australia with the best possible chance of winning Olympic gold and receive the majority of their coaching from the national class coach, with support from the State Programs.

Step 10 - The Australian Sailing Team (AST)

Being a member of the Australian Sailing Team is considered by most to be the pinnacle of sailing within Australia. Members are often professional sailors,

supported and funded by Yachting Australia with a national class sailing coach, and access to physiotherapists, psychologists, nutritionists and other specialists at the Australian Institute of Sport. Sailing is recognised as one of Australia’s top sports, in terms of Olympic Gold Medals and at this level Yachting Australia’s High Performance Program has won the AIS Program of the Year in three of the last five years.

Types of Boats

There are hundreds of types of boats to learn to sail and participate in. Some have developed locally and some are recognised internationally by the ISAF, the International Sailing Federation. Sailors will select the Class most appropriate to their interest, club and pathway aspirations. For example if a sailor wants to sail internationally an International Class is a prerequisite.

Yachting Australia endorses the International Classes, and they are a prerequisite for sailors wanting to progress beyond their club coaching programs to State Development Squads. Yachting Australia also specifies a modified boat (the OziOpti) for the Tackers Program and recommends some other Classes for specific uses such as Pacers for Schools Teams Racing. Otherwise the class of boat sailed is up to the club or individual.

The International Classes

International classes have a strong following within Australia and with World Championships held around the globe, provide the opportunities to travel and compete at the highest level. The full list of international classes appears on the ISAF website at www.sailing.org/boatclasses


Which Boat Do I Sail?

There are many Junior boats to choose from including Manly Juniors, Flying 11s, Pelicans, Sabots, Minnows, and many others. These all offer starting points, however if your goal is to progress through and follow the 10 step Pathway then at some point you will need to consider an international class. In junior sailing these are the International Optimist and Laser 4.7.

These two International ISAF classes have been selected by Yachting Australia as their preferred Junior classes.

Both classes have been selected for a number of reasons:

■ Develop the appropriate technical skills and knowledge.

■ Offer excellent depth in national and international competition.

■ Provide an excellent foundation for the pathway to the recognised Youth classes.

■ Provide good racing and coaching.

■ Being strict one-designs are relatively affordable for all participants, and can be readily resold.

JUNIOR CLASSES

JuniorClasses

LEFT Optimist RIGHT LASER 4.7


OptimistSingle-hander Weight range 35-54kg Maximum age 15 years

This is the boat that many Junior sailors will have had their first sailing experience in. Its size and forgiving nature make it great for

introducing sailors at a very early age. Yet the boat is technical enough to provide all the challenges both physical and mental to ultimately progress to succeed at Youth and Olympic level. The Optimist is sailed in over 110 countries and so offers the most extensive program of international competition for any class. “In the 2008 Beijing Olympics 85% of the medal winning skippers were former Optimist sailors” – International Optimist Class Association.

Websites Australian Optimist Class Association www.aioda.com International Optimist Class Association – this site gives a great indication of the extent of Optimist sailing throughout the world. www.optiworld.org

Laser 4.7Single-hander Weight range 52-65kg Maximum age 17 years

The Laser 4.7 provides a link for single-handed sailors between the Optimist and Laser Radial and Laser Standard rigs. Laser rigs are interchangeable enabling sailors to progress to the larger rigs when their weight and size

increases. The laser 4.7 is a transitional class for those sailors looking to follow the single-hander pathway from their first junior class, but is also an excellent class for those who may be destined for double handed boats as either skipper or crew. It is also an excellent class for those who started sailing at a later age (>13 years) and/or may have already outgrown the Optimist and will shortly transition to a double-hander either as skipper or crew, but are not quite ready for that transition. The Laser 4.7 is sailed in over 40 countries worldwide and offers a comprehensive program of world and regional championships yearly.

Websites Australian Laser Class Association www.lasersdownunder.com International Laser Class Association www.laserinternational.org

Junior Class Specifications

JUNIOR CLASS SPECIFICATIONS


YOUTH CLASS SPECIFICATIONS

Youth ClassSpecifications

Laser Radial

Single-hander Weight range 62-75 kg

The Laser Radial is one of the most popular Youth classes with large numbers attending the Yachting Australia Youth Championships as well as State, Club and Class events.

As the Olympic equipment for the women’s single-hander, girls have the opportunity to race against the World’s best female sailors. The Radial is the single-hander for both boys and girls for the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships.

Websites Australian Laser Class Association www.lasersdownunder.com International Laser Class Association www.laserinternational.org

420

Double-hander Weight range Total: 115-125kg, Helm: 50-60kg, Crew: 55-65kg

The class has a strong international regatta program with many sailors later moving on to the Olympic 470 class.

From 2010 the 420 along with the 29er are the selected double-hander classes for the ISAF Youth Worlds.

Check on the ISAF website for the details for upcoming championships www.sailing.org

Websites Australian 420 Class Association www.420.yachting.org.au International 420 Class Association www.420sailing.org

International Youth Classes


YOUTH CLASS SPECIFICATIONS

29er

Double-hander Weight range Total: 120-130kg Helm: 55-68kg, Crew: 65-75kg

The 29er continues to grow as a class and will continue to do so with a women’s skiff now in the Olympic program. The class provides a stepping stone to the men’s Olympic 49er and women’s Olympic 49er classes.

Websites Australian 29er Class Association www.29er.com.au International 29er Class Association www.29er.org

Bic Techno

Windsufer Weight range 40-60kg

The two different sized rigs of the Bic techno provide a great stepping stone for both girls and boys, moving up towards the ISAF Youth Worlds Windsurfer Class. While windsurfing tends to be more recreational there are a number of clubs that run windsurfer racing, and due to the nature of the equipment travelling overseas to compete internationally is a simple affair.

Website Bic Techno international site www.bicsportwindsurf.com

Hobie 16

Double-hander Minimum open weight 129.3kg Minimum youth weight 112.5kg (If lighter than the minimum, extra weight is carried to equalise the boats)

This twin trapeze multi-hull retains a broad following internationally and has previously been selected as the open multi-hull equipment for the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships.

Websites Australian Hobie Class Association www.anhca.hobieclass.com International Hobie Class Association www.hobieclass.com


MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION

To get the correct advice and move to the most suitable class needs careful planning and is an important decision, so it’s important to get it right. But generally the International Classes hold their value well and can be easily resold when it’s decided to change. People to get advice from include Qualified Club Coaches, or the State High Performance Program Coach.

Factors to Consider in Selecting a ClassThere are a number of factors affecting which class to move to, especially a youth class.Personal Preference – which class do you want to sail? Single-handed or double-handed? Conventional or asymmetric spinnaker? Physical Characteristics – this is an essential factor for choosing a new class. To be successful in the international arena sailors need to be the optimum size for their chosen boat.Location – key to making progress at this stage is having other boats to train with and somewhere to train. Are there other sailors at your or surrounding clubs sailing the same class? Does your club have a coaching program? Can you get together with other sailors and organise your own training group in holidays, at weekends or after school.

Future sailing goals and aspirations – Sailors aiming to represent their country at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships need to know which classes will be used at the event. Yachting Australia’s recognised Youth Classes are the equipment used at the ISAF Youth World Sailing Championship. Laser Radial Boys and Girls; 420 Boys and Girls; 29er Open (Boys, Girls or Mixed); RS:X Boys and Girls (YA uses Bic Techno 293 as a feeder to the RS:X for reasons of cost and accessibility); and Hobie 16.Do you have Olympic aspirations? – If so, then the choice is quite simple as many of the Youth Classes feed directly into the Olympic Classes. For example the 420 feeds into the 470 and the 29er into the 49er. The Laser Radial is both a Youth and Olympic class for women, with the Laser Standard as the men’s single hander, along with the Finn for heavyweight sailors.One design – A one design boat, such as a Laser means that there is no room for variations in boat design – it is all down to the sailor. Development Classes such as the International Moth offer the additional challenge of design and innovation to stay at the front of the fleet. Cost – Generally a one design boat will be cheaper to own and have a better resale.

Making The RightDecision

Laser 4.7


This will depend on, amongst other things, age, racing experience and physiology. Sailors need to start thinking about moving classes at least 12 to 18 months before their size or age requires them to.

Above all be patient and don’t expect miracles immediately – the step from Junior to Youth classes is a big one and it takes time to make it to the top of any new class.

Develop a good plan and work on delivering that rather than being sidetracked by short-term outcome goals. Youth sailing is about developing the processes and routines that will enable success at international level. These processes need to come first – results will follow.

Crewing and Partnerships

Partnerships, teamwork and working with other people are all very important skills. If a sailor chooses to race a double-hander at Youth level, it will most likely be the first time most have gone into an equal partnership.

It is critical at this point to spend time ensuring the partnership is going to be effective, compatible and fun. This is a very important

decision, with sailors spending many hours together at regattas and during training, both on and off the water. Make sure you discuss the partnership with all involved – both families need to be involved and on side.

Compatibility

The key to successful partnerships is compatibility – this can be broken down into several areas.

Basics – It helps if sailors are roughly the same sailing age and preferably the same sex. Not addressing these issues can hinder development later down the line when most sailors have paired up finding effective partners for the last year of Youth competition.

Goals and Commitment – Sailors should discuss exactly what they want from their sailing and racing with any potential partner. Goals and aspirations should be compatible as

WHEN DO I MAKE THE MOVE TO A YOUTH CLASS?

When do I make the move to a Youth Class


should a willingness to commit the same amount of time and effort. Being successful at Youth level requires sacrifices – pressures can build if one partner thinks the other is not putting as much in.

Roles – An effective partnership is a balanced one. To be efficient and effective roles will need to be divided between partners. Ensure the split of work is fair and each sailor works to their strengths whilst also learning from the other.

Youth sailors still rely on parents for many things – funding, driving, helping with logistics – so they also need to be happy with the commitment and how it is shared between the two families while still maintaining a balance with other family members.

Fun Factor – Absolutely crucial – after all if it’s not fun, why do it? Partners need to like spending time together – they don’t have to be best friends but they will spend a lot of time together, training and competing.

And Finally …..Maintenance – Partnerships need maintenance. All partnerships have their moments but with effective and regular communication partners should be able to work through any difficulties. Sailors need to identify what they enjoy as a pair and ensure that time is allocated to that in their program.

RIGHT Australia’s Women’s Match Racing crew

Nina Curtis, Olivia Price and Lucinda Whitty

BELOW LEFT Australian Youth Sailing

Team member Sam Treharne in action

BELOW RIGHT Laser sailors Tom Slingsby

and Tom Burton on the podium in Weymouth

MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION


OTHER YACHTING AUSTRALIA RECOMMENDED CLASSES

Other Yachting AustraliaRecommended Classes

The Access Dinghy

Sailing is a sport for people of all abilities. For people with disabilities that require significantly modified equipment the Access Dinghy is the recommended Class.

It comes in several variations:

■ 2.3m

■ 3.3m

■ Liberty

For sailors with disabilities wanting to progress to the international stage on the Sailing Pathway to the Paralympics or Special Olympics the recognised international classes are:

■ The Sonar – a 4m three-person keelboat

■ The Skud18 – a 5m two-person skiff

■ The 2.4 – a single-person mono hull

But most people with a disability will be able to participate using the full range of classes.

Website The International Class Association website which provides information on all Australian events www.accessclass.org

TOP LEFT Access Dinghy

TOP RIGHT Sonar

BELOW LEFT Skud 18

BELOW RIGHT The 2.4


SOME TIPS TO BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE

The Importance of Sailing in Big Fleets

One of the most important factors to sailing success at a State and National level and beyond is big fleet experience. How often do you see sailors that have just come home from a nationals significantly improve their sailing performance in club races. The Yachting Australia Youth Grand Prix is designed to provide the competitive, big fleet experiences that aspiring international sailors need. Details at www.yachting.org.au under Events.

Sailing and Training Time

Time on the water and time training ashore is crucial in the Youth classes where the demands of the equipment are greater than at Junior level. As it is also the springboard into senior sailing, time invested here makes the next level that bit more accessible.

Those Youth sailors in the State Development Squad and Teams and those wanting to be selected should be looking at sailing a minimum of three weekends a month year round, plus school holiday camps and summer regattas. Land-based training is vital to become a well-rounded sailor. Top youth sailors should be looking at a minimum of seven hours training a week on top of sailing time. This should be a carefully designed program of aerobic, core and strength work put together by a qualified sports physiologist. State Development Squad members will have guidance in developing these programs.

Coaching and Clubs

Your sailing club remains a vital part of your training program. Youth sailors would be expected to participate in their club’s coaching program

as well as club racing all of which provides an environment to improve skills and techniques.

International Events

Living in Australia sailors do not have the advantage that those in Europe have of a ready made international sailing circuit with easy access, travelling and lower costs. However there are many regattas within the Asia Pacific region that provide a good starting point for top level international competition.

New Zealand and Singapore offer good competition. Within Australia there are many events, details of which appear on the Yachting Australia Website under events, and include the Australian Youth Grand Prix which in turn includes Australian Youth Championships, Sail Sydney, Sail Melbourne which is part of the ISAF Sailing Word Cup, Queensland Youth Week.

Lifestyle

The key purpose of the State Development Squads and Teams, and to a lesser extent the club coaching programs, are to help talented sailors make it into the Australia Sailing Squad. To achieve that, sailors need to be well-informed and well-rounded sailors capable of representing their State and country at the highest levels.

Youth sailors need to develop their independence and the skills that go along with that. There will be the first occasion when the sailor needs to attend an international regatta without their parents. While possibly a daunting experience, if the sailor has already developed skills such as planning, communication, managing logistics and finance they can concentrate on competing.

Some Tips To Be the Best You Can Be

YACHTING AUSTRALIA // Youth Development and High Performance Pathway 23

Parents can play a vital role in coaching their young sailors in life skills. Reducing parental involvement over time has to happen if a sailor is going to develop the necessary skills for themselves. Parents failing to let go, or doing these tasks in their entirety for their youngsters, can make the transition upwards more difficult.

The aim of the State Development Squads and Teams is for sailors to have these skills in place so when chosen for the Australian Sailing Squard (ASS) to enable the coaches to concentrate on higher level sailing skills.

It can be a very difficult time for Youth sailors with other challenges such as education, career, university, finances, and leaving home all impacting on their sailing and making it to a senior level within the ASS or the Australian Sailing Team.

Funding and Assistance Schemes

It is a question that is often asked where can I get funding to support my sailing?

One source of on-going funding is the Local Sporting Champions Programs which is funded

by the Australian Sports Commission. The purpose is to provide financial assistance for junior sportsmen and women towards the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment when competing at an official national sporting organisation (NSO) endorsed state or national sporting competition. More information can be found via the website www.ausport.gov.au

Yachting Australia with the assistance of the Australian Sports Commission, has also funded athletes who have competed successfully in recent World Championships of International and Recognised Classes. Increasingly this funding is being directed to the recognised International Youth Classes. The grants are paid retrospectively based on Class World Championships held between 1 April and 31 March the following year. The purpose of the funding is to assist athletes with the cost of their World Championship campaign. Support is calculated using criteria that consider the athlete’s performance and where the World Championship was held.

SOME TIPS TO BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE


CHECKLIST

A checklist of what to look for at a Club where you are learning to sail, or joining a club coaching program.

■ Is the Club a recognised Yachting Australia Discover Sailing Learn to Sail Centre? (This provides assurance about course content, safety management, instructor qualification and national recognition.)

■ Is the Instructor Yachting Australia Qualified?

■ Does it offer the full Learn to Sail range of courses on the Sailing Pathway? (Introduction to Sail, Better Sailing and Learn to Race.)

■ Does it provide the type of boat you would be happy to learn in?

■ If you want to go racing does it offer a pathway to get you there? (Crewing opportunities, introductory racing , a mentor, are boats available for use?)

Coaching

■ Does the Club have a recognised Coaching program?

■ Does this program support your preferred class and if you want to progress to higher levels the International Recognised Classes?

■ Is it run by a qualified Yachting Australia Coach?

Checklist


APPENDICES

Useful Websites / Contacts

Yachting Australia www.yachting.org.au

Australian Sailing Team www.australiansailingteam.com.au

ISAF – for details of the recognised International Classes www.sailing.org

Members of the Yachting Australia Youth Committee – June 2012

Chairperson Nick Hutton NSW Delegate Andrew Cribb QLD Delegate Ben Callard SA Delegate Andrew Short TAS Delegate Murray Jones VIC Delegate Jane Moffat WA Delegate Anthony Claydon

Where to Buy a Boat

The best place to buy a second-hand boat:

■ Your club notice board or newsletter.

■ The class website- as listed in this booklet.

■ The Yachting Australia “Classifieds” section on the website – www.yachting.org.au

■ Other websites such as The Trading Post, ebay, and boat dealers.

Appendices


STATE ASSOCIATION CONTACT DETAILS

ACT [email protected] Phone: (02) 6273 4777PO Box 7169, YARRALUMLA, ACT, 2600

NSW [email protected] Phone: (02) 8116 9800PO Box 6450, SILVERWATER BC, NSW, 21286A Figtree Drive, SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK, NSW, 2127

NT [email protected] Phone: (08) 89855914 PO Box 127, PARAP, NT, 0804

Queensland [email protected] Phone: (07) 33936788PO Box 5462, MANLY, QLD, 4179578 Royal Esplanade, MANLY, QLD, 4179

SA [email protected] Phone: (08) 08 8410 2117PO Box 6135, Halifax Street, ADELAIDE, SA, 50001st Floor, 300 Morphett Street, ADELAIDE, SA, 5000

Tasmania [email protected] Phone: (03) 6383 471922 Ernest St, BEAUTY POINT, TAS, 7270

Victoria [email protected] Phone: (03) 95970066Unit 2, 77 Beach Road, SANDRINGHAM, VIC, 3191

WA [email protected] Phone: (08) 9386 2438PO Box 3073, Broadway, NEDLANDS, WA, 6009In the grounds of Nedlands Yacht ClubThe Esplanade, NEDLANDS, WA, 6009

Yachting Australia Phone: (02) 8424 7400, Fax (02) 9906 2366 Locked Bag 806, MILSONS POINT, NSW, 2061 Level 1, 22 Atchison Street, ST LEONARDS, NSW, 2065

State AssociationContact Details

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www.yachting.org.au

For all your insurance needs call OAMPS 1800 240 432

For a guide to Insurance for Sailors Click on the OAMPS logo on the Yachting Australia Website

Major Sponsor of Australian Youth Development

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