I am very excited about our up and coming New Zealand & Australia 2016-17 Tour, kicking off in Auckland with a 3 day international clinic 21-23 December, followed up by the Australian Optimist Nationals in Adelaide, Australia 2-9 January.
For our Auckland clinic we currently have 15 top sailors signed up and taking part. We’re really looking forward to getting out of Auckland’s Waitemata Habour to carry out three days of high performance training. Our team of coaches includes current Olympic campaigners and Youth World medalists, so as usual there will be no shortage of knowledge to share. Using a whole lot of awesome photography and video footage we’re going to pull apart sailors strategy and tactics and analyse each and every part of their race. It will be a great opportunity for New Zealand sailors to meet other sailors from Europé and forge new friendships.
On January 2 the Zealous team and I will be begin training in Adelaide for a couple of quick warm up days prior to the beginning of the AIODA Nationals. We have a wicked team of 8 sailors (6 from New Zealand, 2 from Europe) that will take part in one of the best regatta’s “Down Under” in the Optimist calendar. Adelaide has some sensational sailing conditions that I know will make for some real quality racing come January.
As well as sailing there myself at a young 29er crew in 2013 I was lucky enough to spend two months coaching in Adelaide based out of the Brighton Seacliff Yacht Club. Whilst it was only for a short time I have super positive memories of all the awesome people I met. The were so many fantastic parents that had young sailors full of talent and potential. Alex & Angus Higgins, Matt Meaney and Sam Magarey all going on to have great success in the Optimist at National & World level. Now the boys making their mark in the 420 fleet it will be great to go back and catch up with all those welcoming families that made coaching in Adelaide such a memorable experience.
Can't wait for the summer ahead!
Sam