The Project, based out of Mission Beach in Far North Queensland is skilling participants up in the sport and recreational activity of dingy and keelboat sailing.

Commencing in October, the project runs for a year. As well as sail training, it delivers a holistic program around tourism training, cultural awareness, ready for work and other sail related training.

Project co-director Tracey Wilson said that the project aims to not only provide the opportunity for Indigenous people to learn the skills of sailing  but also to source work opportunities for graduating participants in the tourism and marine industries.

Ms Wilson said the partnership with Yachting Queensland (YQ) has proven invaluable for the success of the project.

“YQ is assisting with funding sources for the sail training and has also provided assistance to the Mission Beach Sailing Club Inc as they deliver the sailing instruction to participants,” she said.

“During this week’s visit the participants will take part in crucial safety and sea and shipboard safety training which will provide crucial skills for the next component of the project and for upcoming work experience,” Ms Wilson said.

Executive officer of Yachting Qld, Mr Denis Cook, said that the project is unique and one that YQ is very interested in and keen to support.

“We have been aware that there is a lack of Indigenous sailors across the State and this project provides a perfect entry into the sport and recreational activity of sailing, with an added bonus of sustainable employment outcomes,” he said.

“If these participants can encourage their family and community groups to start sailing YQ are happy to assist where we can,” Mr Cook said.

Media is welcome to attend on Wednesday 23^rd November where there will be opportunity to meet the sailors and for interviews.

Ends  21/11/11   For further information contact Tracey Wilson on 0419 688 372

An ankle injury proved to be a serious setback for the talented Noosa Yacht and Rowing club Laser dinghy sailor Klade Hauschildt as he focuses his career on being fully fit to contest the Australian championship on Brisbane’s Waterloo Bay.

Racing the single handed Laser at the required boat speed to be competitive encompasses a combination of finely tuned human element skills and while Klade has proved with his career results to be on the pace tactically the injury meant he was far from being on the pace physically.

Naturally this set back with the Brisbane nationals just three months away and being forced to leave his Laser in the cradle was not what Klade Hauschildt planed but rather than miss sailing altogether he focused his attention towards helping the new generation Laser sailors perfect their individual skills.

He was a popular guest coach at the recent Yachting Queensland Youth Development camp at Yeppoon where he provided an informative set of guide lines on preparing both mind and body to spend the important time of hiking hard and sailing fast in the competitive discipline of Laser dinghy racing.

Just a few years ago Klade Hauschildt like his training mate Ryan Palk was in the same position as the present day Youth development squad looking for the refined skills that would lift their career from being a clever club sailor to becoming respected in State, National and International regattas.

As Klade explained racing in a strict one-design class like the Olympic Laser dinghy is purely determined by the human element related skills of thinking smart being boat fit and applying a faultless tactical strategy.

Each category is never perfected without doing the ‘Hard Yards’ on the water.

“You must make a commitment to a tough grind of practice, practice and more practice”. He said.

Thankfully his recent injury while placing his National Title prospects on hold has failed to dampen his enthusiasm.

Last weekend he was back in the hiking straps of his Laser testing his boat speed on the Noosa River.

As expected he was too involved to notice who was watching and while he trained alone there were all the signs that he was on the pace.

His tacking against the light breeze and current was slick while the body movement showed he was close to having the required speed to protect his National ranking.

There was no sign of personal discomfort from the ankle injury after completing his first of many training sessions on the Noosa River to be race ready for the International Sail Brisbane regatta followed by the more important Laser Nationals from December 29 to January 4.

Whitsunday Sailing Club brother and sister sailors Klaus and Eva Lorenz have understandably spent the school holidays gaining more important skills about dinghy racing.

Like most children they have left the class room environment to spend the break from school doing what the like best and in the case for the Lorenz siblings it has meant spending two weeks away from sailing of Airlie Beach to visit Yeppoon for the Yachting Queensland youth training camp.

Both Klaus and Eva are members of the Yachting Australia accredited program and are no strangers to testing the skill on the open waters of Rosslyn Bay.

While they renewed their friendships with other Yachting Queensland Youth Development team members their personal focus was on improving their skills under the guidance of Australian high performance coach Adrian Finglas and YQ’s Ben Callard.

This opportunity allowed Klaus and his crew mate Ollie Annear to gain important sail-fast techniques as the face the new sailing season in the highly competitive 420 Olympic training class.

Klaus a self taught sailor who has spent endless hours of mid-week training and weekend racing on Pioneer Bay to achieve a career best Bronze Medal result in the 2011 Australian Optimist championship earlier this year will be presented with a supreme challenge to master the 420 with his school mate Ollie Annear.

Last week the gained some important sail-fast tips from a former Australian 420 champion Adrian Finglas who also coached Lisa Charlson and Sarah Roberts Thomson to win the Women’s World championship in South Africa.

However as Klaus, Ollie and Eva understand their career results are purely determined from making the right decisions on the race course and those skills are progressively refined with the time they are prepared to spend on training.

“Ollie and I are good mates and understand what is needed to become competitive”. Klaus said.

Later this year their skill and boat speed will be measured on the result from the Australian championship on the unfamiliar and open water course on Brisbane’s Deception Bay.

Meanwhile the new young and enthusiastic 420 Whitsunday Sailing Club team have a little over three months to be race ready.

As expected their busy schedule will included mid-week after school training sessions on Pioneer Bay while Klaus will also remained involved with the WSC Optimist sailing team as the their ‘new leader’ Eva Lorenz heads into the National championship with the prospect of being the only Lorenz on the list of entries.

However like her older brother the talented 12 year old promises to continue a climb up the National rankings.

A serious ankle injury has forced promising Australian Olympic Laser skipper Klade Hauschildt to place his dinghy racing career on hold.

Normally the Noosa River Yacht and Rowing Club sailor would be involved with extensive training sessions and racing on the tricky Noosa River estuary to ensure he is boat fit for the coming summer.

But unfortunately as every Laser dinghy sailor has leant to understand personal fitness is a key factor behind achieving top results in the class.

However while his Laser has remained dry and rugged up under cover on the dinghy cradle Klade has remained tactically aware with racing in the one design Farr 30 and the exciting Melges 32 classes.

Sure the ankle was in the final healing process and Klade was becoming a little ‘stir crazy’ from missing the endless hours of training and hiking from the straps on the Laser when he accepted the tactician’s role with the Gladstone husband and wife racing team of Jon and Jeanine Drummond on Loco.

This was an important career opportunity for Klade to test his tactical experience in a totally different and unfamiliar class.

Naturally he was his normal modest self when we met on the dock at Abel Point Marina during the Airlie Beach Race Week last month.

He explained his injury meant it was far too painful to sail his Laser but there was little chance in slowing the healing process with racing in the one design Farr 30 at Airlie Beach followed by crewing with elite sailors Peter Conde and the Stephen Girdis cousins of the same name on Funnelweb at Hamilton Island.

Loco faced some stiff opposition from the Townsville crew on the Leon Thomas skippered Guilty Pleasures 111 however they held a firm grip on winning the Silver Medal after they beat the eventual title winner Guilty Pleasures 111 by a comfortable 1 minute 20 seconds in the final race at Airlie Beach.

As expected the racing for the Melges 32 crown at the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week became a nip-n-tuck tactical dogfight between the reigning Australian champions on Funnelweb and the Noel Leigh-Smith helmed Southport Yacht Club entry Desperado.

Funnelweb won five of the ten races but her inconsistent scores of 4-5-5-6 forced them to fall 1 point short of winning the Gold Medal ahead of the Southport crew in Desperado.

Klade Hauschildt naturally had a sun tanned smile on his face after gaining valuable career experience from two intensive weeks of tactical one design racing in Queensland’s major keel yacht regattas.

He gained further important career exposure when he stowed his sea-bag on the Anthony Bell owned super-maxi Loyal as part of the delivery crew to Sydney.

Naturally Klade was disappointed with the interruption to his Laser racing program but made some important contacts which promise to fulfil his ambition to become a professional yacht racing crewmember.

Co-ordinated by Australian Youth Olympic team coach Ben Callard, the ‘identifcation and development’ camp also drew on the extensive experience of Adrian Finglas (Australian Olympic team coach), Scott McInally (Queensland Optimist Association Coach) and Queensland Academy of Sport athletes Angus Galloway, Alex Gough and Mitch Kennedy.

Inspired by their instructors, southeast Queensland’s most committed young sailors, who ranged in age from seven to fourteen, did not disappoint.

The first of four comprehensive on-water sessions was conducted offshore where the breeze gusted to 17 knots.  The group, later divided up according to experience, persevered through testing conditions to complete a variety of drills including tacking, gybing and figures of eight.

Nine year-old Ashleigh Swadling from Southport Yacht Club, participating in her first ‘Opti’ camp, was amongst them.  In spite of taking a hit from her boom, she kept her focus both on water and off it, transfixed by the classroom de-briefs where the coaches used photographs taken that day to highlight boat handling triumphs and disasters.

At the other end of the scale, SYC’s Monet Mooney and Claire McInally have been sailing for seven years, competing at national level for the last two.

“We like the close community,” the girls agreed.  “You make really good friendships when you spend time together.  Not everyone does it, sailing’s a bit different – it’s an adrenalin rush!”

Whilst the sun shone all weekend, the breeze increased giving the elite coaches an excuse to take training to the Mooloolah River for some of the on-water time.  The kids, working in a more confined space, needed to increase their level of awareness and deal with fluky gusts coming in around buildings.

Asked how the boys had behaved, the girls grinned.  “It depends what you call behaving,” laughed Claire. “In other words, not really!” Samantha Simmonds and Natasha White (from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron) joked.

Sailing was the clear winner at Mooloolaba.  The camp couldn’t have come at a better time – just three weeks ahead of the Optimist State Championships (also at Mooloolaba).  Adrian Finglas was impressed with the whole group. 

“There’s heaps of potential here,” he said.  “We’ve got kids from a variety of clubs and the more they get together, the stronger the group is going to become.  These are tomorrow’s champions, I can see at least 20 here capable of going all the way.”

 “It’s great to watch Angus, Alex and Mitch helping out,” Adrian continued.  “I first coached Angus when he was just out of the Opti level; now, like Alex and Mitch, he’s one of the best young sailors of his age in the world.”

All three teenagers are heading overseas in the coming weeks to compete in the European racing season.  They do so knowing they made a real difference to the next generation.

Entries for the state championships can be lodged online at www.sailmooloolaba.yachting.org.au, and do not close until 5pm on Wednesday, June 1^st 2011.  Optimist dinghies are available for charter from Ozi-Opti (http://www.theboatyard.com.au/category63_1.htm).

See you there!!

Holly Kenny

May 17 2011

José Massapina, 420 Class Vice-President responsible for the 420 Development Programme commented, “Training and improving techniques can be challenging and this instructional video is a bit like having your own personal video coach to help you get faster and talk you through skills and tactics.”Recognizing the input from the partners involved, Massapina added, “We are delighted to have produced the video which has been a major project for the class and I am confident it will benefit many young sailors around the world. Our thanks to Nick Drougas, the Greek sailors sailing and demonstrating the techniques and Icarus who have produced the video.”

This is the first specific training video produced by the International 420 Class Association and introduces a range of specific techniques, and demonstrates how to master them in different wind and sea conditions and what to consider when undertaking a range of manoeuvres.

“If you get your technique right you’ll be efficient, produce better results and avoid potential injuries.” explained Nick Drougas the world class coach behind the video. “Boat set up is explained, alongside body and boat movement. The commentary and visual presentation provide an easily understood training tool. Watch the video, go out and practice, review your day’s sailing and improve your skills.” he added.

Animated graphic overlays demonstrate specific points to consider in completing manoeuvres, accompanied by an excellent voice over. Designed to help sailors improve their skills and sail their boats better, the video provides a free and excellent resource for 420 sailors around the world. Coaches can also benefit from the video and look at new approaches to training and coaching.

Developed by the International 420 Class Association in partnership with Nick Drougas and Icarus – the training video is broken down into easily digestible sections, which you can view as separate video clips. The video focuses on:

• Preparation and General Skills
• Lightwinds
• Medium Winds
• Strong Winds

Users can either choose to view online or may download the files via www.420sailing.org or go to www.prosailingcoach.com/?page_id=45 

In addition to the English version, the videos are also available to download in French, Spanish and German. If ISAF MNAs or 420 National Class Association would like a translation of the video into any other languages please contact José Massapina on: jose.massapina@marinaalbufeira.com

About the International 420 Class 
The International 420 Class dinghy is an ISAF International Class and two-person dinghy for young sailors. The 420 is an established worldwide performance two-person trapeze and spinnaker racing dinghy and the world’s top youth training boat, which is used as the selected equipment at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships  – offering the perfect pathway from youth to Olympic sailing.

There are 56,000 420 dinghies worldwide, sailed at school, club, open, national and international levels. There are many second hand boats available, active clubs and excellent tuition for all levels. 

The International 420 Class Association is responsible to manage and promote 420 sailing around the world in partnership with the 420 National Class Associations.

More Information:
Email: 420office@gmail.com
Web: www.420sailing.org

Press Release also online at: www.420sailing.org

420 Class on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/International-420-Class-Association/186285531415321
420 Class on Twitter: www.twitter.com/420class

May 10th, 2011                                                                                                                                                       SM11/007

_________________________________________________________________________________

Three weeks ahead of Sail Mooloolaba Adrian Finglas, Australian Olympic Coach, will join an elite team converging on the coast this weekend (May 14-15) to identify and train Queensland’s youngest sailing talent.

Yachting Queensland’s second Optimist Development Camp for 2011 will take place at Mooloolaba Marina, and has attracted children aged between 8 and 15 from as far a field as Southport Yacht Club and the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.

Finglas will be joined by 2010 Australian Youth Olympic team coach Ben Callard, top Queensland International Optimist Dinghy Association (QIODA) coach Scott McInally and National Champions Angus Galloway and Alex Gough.

Yachting Queensland provides the talent scout for Queensland’s Academy of Sport sailing program in partnership with QIODA and the Maroochy Sailing Club (MSC). 

John Pearce, Sail Mooloolaba Committee Chair and MSC Commodore, acknowledged the support of both Yachting Queensland and QIODA in his mission to draw more youngsters into the sport.  “It’s great to be able to offer Australia’s youngest sailors access to elite training of this calibre,” Mr Pearce said.  “Sail Mooloolaba incorporates the International Optimist class state championship in 2011, so this camp will be invaluable for serious contenders”.

Seventy per cent of medallists from the last two Olympics began on the diminutive Optimist dinghy, which weighs no more than 35kgs fully rigged.   Maroochy Sailing Club, based on Chambers Island, now operates the largest fleet of racing optimists on the East Coast of Australia.  Nine months ago, the club owned just one.

“We have had a dynamic year,” Mr Pearce acknowledged.  “Transporting two containers full of boats from China had its challenges, but junior membership at the club has exploded since their arrival, so it was well worth it.”

The camp, which begins at 9am on Saturday, will focus on boat speed and handling as well as race tactics and discipline.

Sail Mooloolaba’s week-long ‘celebration of sailing’ will take place from June 3^rd to 9th, and immediately precedes the Musto Etchells Australasian Winter Championship, also in Mooloolaba.

For further information, please contact Holly Kenny on T: 5443 3436  or M: 0431 186511

Email: hollykenny@bigpond.com or Ben Callard at Yachting Queensland on T: 3393 6788.

Get on board for Sail Mooloolaba 2011 – www.sailmooloolaba.yachting.org.au