It seems longer than a few months ago that we finished up on our 2019 season in Melbourne. WA and the WASS team had great success over in Melbourne over a number of regattas. We had strong numbers of sailors competing and some fantastic results including national titles, world championship podiums and importantly big improvements from the past year for the sailors.

Since Melbourne we have all returned home to an ever-changing environment due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The WASS 2020 Program had been planned with some small changes operationally from last year. The main changes include moving to monthly camp based on water training, increased strength and conditioning contact, coaching and activities as well as workshop series facilitated by WAIS specialists to be planned throughout the year.

With the current restrictions, the program has been temporarily restructured to begin and operate from home. Sailors have been programmed home gym programs that include strengths based sessions, cardio based sessions and land boat training sessions. Sailors will be invited to compete in the WAIS/WASS E-Sailing Racing where they can continue to work on their strategic and tactic skills, keeping the sailing mind active. Online workshops and seminars will be run periodically for the sailors on a variety of topics including starting, weather, top mark approach and more.

Invites to the 2020 WASS Program have been sent out and we are expecting 30-35 sailors to take up spots across Laser Radial and 4.7, 29ers, Nacra 15, Techo Sailboards, Formula Kite Foil Racing and Mixed 470. Sailors are from seven yacht clubs across the state including Koombana Bay Sailing Club, and Perth Dinghy Club. As restrictions are lifted and the environment is more certain, the program will mobilise and begin planned operations.

WASS Graduates 2019/20

In 2019 we had a further four sailors graduate up from the WASS program to the WAIS Sailing Program for 2020. These sailors showed outstanding dedication throughout the year leading to standout performances at their National and World Titles. These four sailors join 2018/19 graduates Axel Fleet and Georgia Payne and are listed below:

Ethan McAullay – RPYC, FSC
• 1st U21, Laser Standard National Titles
• 5th, AUS at National Titles
• 47th Laser Full Rig World Championship 2020

Michael Compton – SoPYC, FSC
• 1st Youth, National Titles and AYC 2020
• 2nd, Laser Radial Mens Worlds 2020
• 3rd, Laser Radial Youth Worlds 2019

Stefan Elliott Shircore – SoPYC, FSC
• 2nd Youth, National Titles and AYC 2020
• 1st, Laser Radial Oceanics 2020
• 5th, Laser Radial Mens Worlds 2020

Kieran Bucktin – FSC, RFBYC
• 2nd AUS, 29er National Titles 2020
• 1st U17, 29er World Championships 2019

Ron Tough Foundation Awards

Many WASS sailors and graduates featured in the Ron Tough Foundation Awards Night and it was great to see the majority of the WASS squad in attendance supporting the event and each other. We were treated to some history of the Foundation as well as an inspiring and insightful Q&A with Matt Wearn and Kinley Fowler.

Harry Joyner who sails with his older brother Jack in the 29er was awarded the Ron Tough Junior Sailor of the Year and Bronze Medal. Harry was 13 years old when him and his brother Jack (16) placed 4th at the Australian Youth Championships (AYC), and 6th Australian at the Nationals. This was a big jump from the previous year where they placed 12th and in Harry’s case, competing against sailors several years his senior. Harry thanked his parents, Thor Schoenhoff and Fremantle Sailing Club as well as his training partners Axel and Kieran who they worked very hard with throughout the year. Well done Harry and Jack.

Now graduate of the WASS program Michael Compton took out the coveted Syd Corser Scholarship as well as Youth Sailor of the Year and the Silver Medal after a number of standout performances throughout the year. In 2018 Michael placed 2nd at 4.7 Worlds Titles and then stepped up to Radial, subsequently placing 4th at the AYC in Hobart. Throughout 2019 he trained hard with the WASS group including training partner Stefan Elliott Shircore as well as Zac Littlewood (WAIS) under coaches Ben Walkemeyer, Ryan Palk and Arthur Brett. In 2019 Michael placed 3rd at the Laser Radial Youth World Titles in Canada earning him a WAIS Scholarship, he then went onto win the Youth Radial National Titles and AYC, then following it up with a Silver Medal at the Open Mens Radial Worlds in Melbourne. Truly massive year with huge improvements over the past 18 months. A real credit to Michael’s dedication to his craft.

I know many of us are doing in tough in these weird times, some more than others. It may be a long winter but it’ll make that summer sun and those seabreezes all that much more enjoyable. From all of the WASS team we you send our best wishes. Stay in touch and speak soon.

Matt Jerwood – WASS Program Coordinator