The Aon National Youth Programme is part of the wider NZL Sailing High Performance programme.
The aims of the programme are to:
- Develop sailors capability to perform on the world stage and win medals
- Develop sailor led capabilities
- Encourage sailor's pathways into Olympic squads and campaigns.
The programme is based around a series of national clinics scheduled from October to October each season. Throughout the year sailors are also able to access regular support from class lead coaches.
Programme members are also able to get coaching support at youth class world championships.
More information can be found in the NZL Youth Sailing Handbook.
Eligibility
To be eligible to attend the national programme sailors must be:
- Have spent enough time in their youth class already to be capable of sailing in up to 25 knots without tying a coach to a safety role.
- Committed to their youth class and training regularly in this class (a minimum of four days a week)
- It is expected that all members of the programme compete at their class nationals, the Oceanbridge Sail Auckland Regatta and the New Zealand Youth Championships.
Depending on a sailor's experience, they may need to be assessed to see if they meet the prerequisite critieria for entering the programme. This can take place at the following:
- Aon New to Youth Clinics
- Aon Regional Youth Clinics
- Stack Winter Champs MBSC
- Blake Regatta
- Oceanbridge Sail Auckland Regatta
- New Zealand Class National Championships
AYP Code of Conduct
As part of the registration process, each sailor is expected to have read and must agree to the code of conduct. This applies to all sailors, coaches and support personnel attending clinics and YNZ national and international events. It can be found here.
Alongside this we also have a code of conduct for all parents/supporters of sailors in the programme:
Aon Youth Programme Parent Code of Conduct
For more information, please contact our Youth and Events Manager Sam Mackay