News

Final countdown to the 2020 Australian Youth Championships

Published Wed 11 Dec 2019

The countdown is officially on to the 2020 Australian Youth Championships, with just under a month to go until the top youth sailors from Australia and the region gather at the Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club to determine class supremacy.

The 2020 Championships will run from 10-14 January and will see a number of overseas competitors join the starting line, with entrants from China, Singapore, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Fiji set to take part.

Entries continue to flow in for the event, with athletes making final preparations across the country to be ready for the big event. One team in particular has taken an interesting road to be in Victoria next month, which has included a peculiar training regimen.

The Nacra 15 pairing of Nathan Bryant of NSW and Georgia Payne of WA are based on opposite sides of the country, but have made particular sacrifices in order to make their partnership work.

Nathan and Georgia both sailed in the 2019 Australian Nacra 15 Nationals and Australian Youth Championships, after which their respective team members aged out of the boat. This led them to join as a team, even though they live over 3,000 kilometers from one another.

Georgia said “Although at first this seemed challenging, due to the support of our amazing parents, coach Mikael Lundh, yacht clubs and sporting institutes, we were able to make the travel possible and become a competitive team.”

“Typical training involved other sailing and on shore physical gym programs at home, before meeting for five day intensive training camps, monthly.” Georgia continued. “We also travel internationally to gain experience in larger fleets, winning the 2019 Dutch Youth Regatta in a fleet of 60 boats and placing 10th at the Nacra 15 Nationals held in France with 80 boats.”

The strict training plan meant sacrifices had to be made.

“The increased travel to train together means missing school and time at home, so it’s been super important for us to maintain balance and work efficiently so we are able to get the time off school as necessary,” said Payne.

Above: Georgia and Nathan in action on the water

At the Nacra 15 Worlds Left to right: Brin Liddell, Georgia Payne, Rhiannan Brown, Nathan Bryant

When asked about the upcoming Championships Georgia said “Nathan & I are both excited to meet for the 2020 Australian Nacra 15 Nationals and 2020 Australian Youth Championships, to refine our skills and grow as both sailors, and a team, racing some of the best youth catamaran sailors in Australia. It looks like a fantastic venue and we can’t wait to get out on the water and compete in some high quality racing.”

Australian Sailing has released its selection policy for the 2020 Youth Sailing World Championships, and this event will double as one of the selection events for the Youth Worlds which will be held in Salvador, Brazil from 12-19 December 2020.

Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club is hard at work making final preparations and have some great initiatives on offer during the Australian Youth Championships to all those attending.

Everyone attending the event will be given an honorary membership at the club during their visit. There will be a Sorrento Free Member Bus Shuttle Service from 27 December until the end of January, members and guests visiting the Club throughout the Australian Youth Championships will be encouraged to utilise the free bus shuttle service to get to and from the Club. Upon arrival ask for a copy of the timetable and for drop offs after 7pm, see the bus driver in the foyer to arrange a lift home.

To keep everyone energised there will be some great food and lots of drinks including ‘Taco Beach’, located on the Western Lawn, selling delicious food, cold drinks, with great tunes and cool vibes right on the waterfront. The Galley situated downstairs on the beach will also be open from 12noon on Boxing Day and then daily 8am – 8pm until the end of January, for coffee and cold drinks (alcohol served 4-8pm), salad rolls, sausage rolls and pies, chips and snacks. BBQs are available around the Club on the grass areas, just request the key from the SSCBC office.

The host club will encourage all visitors to bring their own reusable water bottles to fill at the water stations around the Club. To reduce single use plastics, the club no longer sells bottled water.

NB Sail Sports will be on hand to supply you with all your needs at the Australian Youth Championships and Sail Melbourne. If you wish to pre-order items from NB Sail Sports for pick up at either event contact the NB Sail Sports team on Phone: 02 9371 7475 or Email: sydney@nbsailsports.com.au

Australian Sailing would like to thank our partners at Choice Hotels for their support of the 2020 Australian Youth Championships. To celebrate the partnership, Choice Hotels are providing competitors the opportunity to win up to 250,000 Privilege Reward points that equates to $2,000 worth of accommodation by signing up to become a Choice Privileges member for free. To enter now for your chance to win, please click here.

You can enter the 2020 Australian Youth Championships and see current entries HERE.

All first-time competitors attending their first Australian Youth Championships are required to complete the online ASADA Level One Anti-Doping Course. If you are unsure if you have completed the eLearning module please refer to the entry and ASADA list or contact Lesley Fasala who can confirm your name on the ASADA List.