The 2019 Victorian Coaching Clinic and Youth Championships are beginning this week and will be hosted by the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron who are well equipped to deliver two top class events.

Nestled on the scenic Mornington Peninsula on Port Phillip Bay, Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron has previously hosted the 2017 Minnow National Championships, the 2018 Optimist State Championships and most recently the 2019 Waszp State Championships.

Only four years ago the club underwent a major transformation with a brand new club house, large hardstand and an expanded marina bringing the facilities up to world class standard. The new facilities are equally matched by an enthusiastic volunteer base who particularly enjoy supporting junior and youth events at the club in addition to a large and experienced race management team.

“Blairgowrie is privileged to be hosting the 2019 Victorian Youth Coaching Clinic and Championship regatta. The club has a long and successful history of junior sailor training and youth engagement and we are thrilled to partner with Australian Sailing for this year’s event,” said Andrew Little, VYC Course Race Officer at BYC.

The response to this year’s Coaching Clinic – running 9-11 April - has been excellent, with a strong number of entries eager to try their hand at coaching.

Headed by leading coach, Carrie Smith, the clinic will be run by highly qualified state coaches that include: Rhett Gowans, Laura Thomson, Chris Jones in Laser and RS Aero, Craig Ferris in 420, Johnny Rodgers in 29er, Laura Harding, Hayden Harding, Paul Rogers in Minnow,  Sophie Jackson overseeing Open Bic.

“The youth clinic is a great initiative where every year we all come together - both youth and junior - with the aim to refine skills and techniques before racing the following weekend. This year we have interstate coaches coming which will provide a fresh perspective for our Victorian sailors,” said Smith.

“We will work on starting and picking the first shift and downwind strategy leading into the bottom marks. A great opportunity to sharpen their skills for those going to compete overseas in the coming months.”

Likewise there is a strong line-up of competitors registered for the Victorian Youth Championships that is being held only a matter of days after the Coaching clinic over the weekend of 13 – 14 April.

This year’s class divisions will include Laser 4.7, Radial, 420s, 29ers, RS Aeros and Open Bics, with two junior fleets, Optis and Minnows.

There will be a number of top youth competitors from Victoria and beyond participating at this year’s regatta.

Lachie Caldwell and James Hackett who came 4^th at this year’s Australian Youth Champs will be battling it out with Linus Talacko and Lachie Grogan who were 9^th in the 420 class.

Another close battle to be expected is in the 29er class between Victorians, Ethan Hosking and Zac Heyes and also Charlie Goodfellow and Jacob McConaghy from Tasmania who came 7^th and 8^th respectively in the Australian Youth Champs.

Michael Parks, George Aulich and Lucie Ede are the ones to watch in the Laser Radial having finished 13th, 29th overall (8th Girl) and 30th overall (9th Girl) respectively at the same National Youth Championships.

In the junior fleets, aspiring young guns include Matty Goss, winner of the 2019 Victorian Opti State Champs and the Minnows are expected to be led by Sam Backwell who took out this year’s State and National Champion titles.

Young sailors put a lot of commitment to train for the event, Laser 4.7 sailor Taj Duff travels as far as from Gippsland Lakes to Melbourne for training, which is a three hour drive.

Light breeze conditions are expected throughout the week which is a welcome forecast since the last year’s regatta has been cancelled due to unruly weather conditions.

Good luck to those competing!

We do encourage spectators and participants to actively share your event photos on social media tagging our official Australian Sailing Youth pages @AustSailYouth and the event hashtag #VICYouthChamps.

Click here for Current entry list and Registration

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact Australian Sailing, Regatta & Events Manager Lesley Fasala on Lesley.Fasala@sailing.org.au