Issue date
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron are seeking teams for this year’s 2019 national youth training weeks.
The weeks are designed specifically for younger teams from secondary schools or yacht clubs around New Zealand keen to get involved in keelboat racing.
Held at Kawau Island, the event is split into two separate weeks between December 2-8 and December 9-14 – teams take part in only one week.
Each year clubs and secondary schools are invited to send a four-person youth crew to share in the intensive sailing experience synonymous with the Squdron's Youth Training Programme.
Teams taking part in the national youth training weeks are then encouraged to get involved in the Youth Training Programme and Harken National Secondary Schools Keelboat Championships.
The week of training gives young sailors the opportunity to receive intensive theoretical and practical instruction in the various aspects of competitive keelboat racing in a disciplined environment. The Squadron provide an experienced range of world-class coaches to assist in running the event, including YTP head coach Reuben Corbett, current YTP sailors and graduates, along with other professional sailors.
Not only is the week a good learning experience on the water for these teams, but it is also a great team building and character building exercise as the teams are away from home in a school camp-like environment.
The national youth training weeks were established in 1989 and seen thousands of young keelboat sailors come through the programme.
“It’s always a very exciting and fun week," Corbett said. "It’s very rewarding as a coach because we have a lot of kids come through who don’t have a lot of experience in keelboat sailing but by the time they leave have learned a lot and are much more confident and knowledgeable in keelboat sailing and are ready to take it to the next level.”
Trainees must be between 14 and 20 years of age and have a reasonable standard of sailing competency and experience. Teams must be made up of four sailors to fit the four team positions of helm, main, trim and bow - however individual entries are also accepted.
All training is completed in the Squadron's fleet of Elliott 7 keelboats.
Find expressions of interest forms here or email raceoffice@rnzys.org.nz
Find more information on the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's national youth training weeks here
