Dates are confirmed for the 2021 Australian Sailing State Youth Sail events, which will include the State Youth Championship Regattas and Coaching Clinics.  Australia’s sailing youth will get the chance to develop their racing skills and put them into practice at each state event.

The combination of the Coaching Clinic with each State Youth Championship was one of the key recommendations from the 2020 review into the youth sailing space including the State underpinning programs. The coaching clinics will help ensure national consistency in the youth pathway space, allowing for coach and athlete development in a performance environment.

While many of last year’s events were postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19, Australian Sailing are planning a full slate of Youth Sail events this year. For NSW, this will be the first time a coaching clinic will be held leading into the NSW Youths Championships, and each state will have a strong line-up of coaches.  The State Youth Championships are open for all youth sailors (up to U23) to attend.

Dates for 2021 State Youth Sail  (incorporating coaching clinics and state youth championships) events:

• VIC Youth Sail: 15 – 16 April Coaching Clinic and 17 – 18 VIC Youths @ Royal Yacht Club of Victoria
• NT Championships: 24 – 25 July
• QLD Youth Sail: 20 – 22 September Coaching Clinic and QLD Youths 23 – 25 September @ Keppel Bay Sailing Club
• WA Youth Sail: 25 – 28 September Coaching Clinic and 29 – 30 September @ Hillarys Yacht Club
• NSW Youth Sail: 29 Sept – 1 October Coaching Clinic and 2 – 4 October NSW Youths @ Point Wolstoncroft
• TAS Youth Sail: 7 – 8 October Coaching Clinic and TAS Youths 9 – 10 Oct @ Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania
• SA Youth Sail – 27 – 28 November SA Youths @ Brighton & Seacliff Yacht Club and  14 – 16 Dec Coaching Clinic @ Lags Bay Sailing Club

A list of classes will be posted on the website in the Notice of Race. For other classes that express interest, please contact the Host Club.

Please note that COVID restrictions may impact the running of each event. If participation limits need to be applied, local (home state) entrants will be prioritised.

Neither AS nor the host club will be responsible for refunds of travel, accommodation or other costs if an event is cancelled. Entry fees may be refunded- subject to the Notice of Race.

For clubs and classes running events in 2021:

• Have a COVID Safe plan, which complies with your state Public Health Orders
• Give consideration to:
  •  minimising gatherings
  • Conduct briefings online
  • Take registrations and payment for entries online
  • Minimise or don’t hold in-person presentations or functions
  • Split fleets into smaller divisions and/ or stagger race times
• Participants from interstate may be excluded by factors beyond their control - consider whether is fair to classify regattas as “national” championships
• There are varying levels of exemptions (social distancing, group sizes) in most states for recreational boating - be aware that these exemptions may differ between on water and on land
• Consider that club capacity limits include all people on the premises, not just sailing event participants
• Give yourselves and participants flexibility:
  • Don’t incur unnecessary costs upfront
  • Have the ability to scale back entries and/or offer full refunds if the event is cancelled

For more information for clubs and classes regarding the COVID-19 pandemic please visit the Australian Sailing COVID-19 Information Hub.