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They've stood on some of the world's most prestigious podiums, but last weekend several of New Zealand's most recognisable sailing names gathered on Auckland’s North Shore to help shape the stars of tomorrow.
Eight leading coaches spent two days at Murrays Bay Sailing Club, putting almost 50 of the country's leading young sailors through their paces at the first clinic of this year's Aon national youth programme.
These included multiple Olympians Jenny Armstrong and Andrew Murdoch, 2023 world championship bronze medallist George Gautrey, and former youth sailing aces Kate Stewart, Scott McKenzie and Markus Sommerville.
Armstrong won gold in the women's 470 at the 2000 Games in Sydney, while Murdoch finished fifth in the then men's Laser at both the 2008 and 2012 Games.
They joined Gautrey in coaching the ILCA 6 intake at the weekend, while Stewart - a two-time youth world champs medallist in the girls 29er - mentored sailors in the double-handed skiff class along with seasoned Olympic coach Geoff Woolley and Yachting New Zealand 49er coach and youth worlds medallist Somerville.
The coaching group also included top Kiwi windfoiler Patrick Haybittle.
"A key strength of our programme is the world-class coaches that we have regularly engaged at the clinics," Yachting New Zealand's youth and events manager Sam Mackay said.
"Having their collective experience of success provides an incredibly valuable opportunity for sailors to step up their sailing. It was an intense two days of training and plenty of fun."
According to Mackay, the programme covers topics like starting, boat handling techniques and boat speed and was the first of several planned across the country over the coming months.
Key lessons from the team that attended the 2023 youth world championships in Brazil was also be shared as the programme ramps up ahead of the New Zealand youth trials in April and the 2024 youth worlds at Lake Garda, Italy in July.
The Aon national youth programme features several top New Zealand coaches. Photos / Angela Jordan
Armstrong, who won gold in the women's 470 at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and who is also Yachting New Zealand's women's sailing manager and ILCA 6 programme manager, said the Aon youth programme is a key ingredient in identifying and developing tomorrow's Olympic sailors.
“Every member of the current NZL Sailing Team has come through the Aon national youth programme and it has been and remains an important stepping stone as talented sailors transition from the youth to Olympic classes," she said.
"A focus for us in this year's programme is to ensure our sailors are exposed to conditions on either end of the scale - extremely light and very heavy - as this was one of the areas for improvement identified by the group that went to Brazil.
"We'll also be spending a lot more time on the water while at the same time ensuring we're helping the sailors manage the balance between sailing, school and life."
To be eligible to attend the national programme, sailors must be committed to their sport, train regularly (a minimum of three days a week) and be capable of sailing in over 20 knots without tying a coach to a safety role.
Sailors should also be aiming to compete at their class nationals and the New Zealand youth championships.
For more information contact Mackay at sam@yachtingnz.org.nz.
