The Inaugural Youth Squad preparation activity for 2023 is now complete as sailors embark on Class Worlds or European Championships.

Our Australian Sailing (AS) coaching and support staff prepared a wider group of sailors than in previous years giving more sailors the opportunity to access the type of coaching and support on offer over a three-month period. Sailors from the various Olympic pathway classes received a comprehensive program comprising of camps and webinars learning from coaches across the AS network. A strong turnout for the six webinars suggested high interest in the support delivered by our coaches who covered the following topics:

• Self-Coaching Strategies
• Venue Preparation
• Start Strategy
• Planning your food and nutrition in advance while overseas
• Class Specific Planning
• Values and Expectations

Harry Joyner Credit Elena Giolai

The webinars were designed to enhance sailor preparation before heading to overseas. Through the delivery of the program sailors learned technical aspects of sailing, non-technical preparation and received personalised action plans to support their training and use their coaches at home to support progression towards their goals.

France Beebee said “The Youth Squad camp in Victoria was a wonderful opportunity to learn from and meet other sailors and coaches around Australia from a variety of classes. The ILCA coach, Annie Eastgate, provided heaps of valuable support and advice that has aided in my preparation for the Class Worlds. The coaches have also been providing fortnightly webinars in lead up to the worlds, on topics such as nutrition, start strategies, and self-coaching strategies, which have further supported my preparation. Being a member of the Youth Squad was a great experience, and I enjoyed every part of it!”

ILCA 6 World Championships

This was the first time this support was extended to squads at this level level. This is a move towards a development model that looks to retain and support the development of sailors at this level. Working with class associations, we are giving access to this type of preparation to more sailors as they prepare to travel overseas, sail in bigger fleets and engage with supported coaches.

The preparation for the Class Worlds or European Championship involved the following coaches:

• Annie Eastgate – ILCA 6
• Mitch Pearson – iQFOiL
• Amelia Catt – 420
• Hayley Clark – 29ers
• Emma Jones – Nacra 15

Coaches will continue their work with these sailors in the following classes: ILCA 6, 29er and iQFOiL classes overseas. Where classes didn’t have enough sailors travelling or chose to forgo coaching support overseas, a new initiative was introduced. This initiative is designed to offers domestic support in the form of a five-day camp tailored to the class to complement the Youth Squad program content and in organised with AS through the relevant class association.

420 Coach Amelia Catt said of the camps, ‘It was great to be able to spend some time in camp with the Australian 420 Squad before they are going overseas. The squad all work so well together, and it was great to see them all make such leaps and bounds in their sailing.’

Nacra 15 sailor Gian Bilston said “The training camps have played a key role in developing both our skills as sailors on the Nacra 15 squad and mindsets as athletes preparing for an international regatta. The on-water training and off-water discussions provided us with the invaluable opportunity to have our many questions answered and guidance in the process of planning, preparing and training for an international regatta from a coach with an understanding of the event from previous experience. The squad-minded nature of the camps have also set us up to travel and compete as a team not only within our boats but also as the Nacra 15 squad by providing us with the skills to support and troubleshoot with each other throughout the high pressure times of the regatta and its lead up.”

Australian teams heading oversea to Class or European Championships are:

ILCA 6 Class Worlds Dziwnow, Poland 1 – 9 July

IQFOiL Youth & Junior Open European Championships Garda Lake, ltaly 1 – 8 July

420 World Championships Alicante, Spain 21 – 29 July

Nacra 15 European Championships Knokke-Duinbergen, Belgium 21 – 28 July

29er UK Nationals and Class Worlds, Weymouth and Portland, United Kingdom 27 July – 4 August

With a total of 43 Australia Youth sailors heading overseas, we wish them the best of luck. To keep up to date with our Youth Sailors the results can be found on the event websites.

2023 ILCA 6 World Championships

2032 IQFOiL Youth & Junior Open European Championships

2023 420 World Championships

2023 Nacra 15 European Championships

2023 29er National and World Championships