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The country's top young sailors have received an Olympic boost through several coaching clinics over the past week, with members of the NZL Sailing Team who shone in France earlier this year lending their expertise.
The latest in-person session, part of Yachting New Zealand's Starling Girls Accelerator Programme, took place at Murrays Bay Sailing Club, with 14 young female sailors participating.
Led by Jenny Armstrong, Yachting New Zealand's women’s sailing manager and ILCA 6 programme lead, the clinic builds on the first session held at Royal Akarana Yacht Club in May. In these sessions, the select group of female sailors worked on goal-setting, fitness, boat setup, tuning, and race debrief routines. The programme aims to fast-track their development in the single-handed dinghy class and prepare them for the Aon national youth programme.
Armstrong, an Olympic gold medallist, and Tom Saunders, who finished seventh in the ILCA 7 class at the Paris 2024 Olympics in August, led the coaching with Greta Pilkington, who made her Olympic debut in the ILCA 6 class in France, also sharing insights with the sailors.
Two tryout days were held this week. Photos / Geoff Woolley
Armstrong and several other experienced coaches, including Geoff Woolley, Paul Snow-Hansen, Markus Somerville, and Sam Mackay, continued their work with tryouts for the 420 and 29er classes at Murrays Bay, followed by similar sessions for the 49erFX and 470 classes at Royal Akarana.
Tryout days were held at Murrays Bay Sailing Club (top) and Royal Akarana Yacht Club. Photos / Geoff Woolley
"The tryouts were a big success with over 30 junior and youth sailors, including more than 20 girls, involved," Woolley, Yachting New Zealand's talent development manager, said.
"They are all looking at their next steps in double-handed sailing, whether that's in the youth or Olympic classes."
According to Woolley, it was a good opportunity for sailors to try different boats, and roles and sail with different people - including with experienced sailors in the classes.
"A key focus is supporting sailors as they transition through the classes or various levels and more of these events are planned for the future," he said.
"It's an awesome way to kick off the new season, coupled with the first of our Aon clinics and the winter champs this weekend."
Next Friday, Armstrong and Saunders will head to Naval Point Club Lyttelton for a 420 and ILCA 6 clinic. Paris 2024 Olympic medallists Isaac McHardie and Micah Wilkinson will also be at the club the following day with the pair, fresh off winning silver in the 49er and bronze in the Nacra 17, set to spend time on the water with young sailors.
They will also attend Charteris Bay Yacht Club’s open day on Sunday.
