Welcome to the Wellington Yachting Talent Development Programme. 

The programme has the following goals

Outcome goals
  

• Sailors from Wellington consistently achieving podium finishes in the Asia/Pacific youth match racing circuit.

• Sailors from Wellington consistently gaining 10% of the places in the New Zealand youth squad and the New Zealand youth team and going on to compete and achieve internationally.

• Sailors from Wellington consistently gaining 10% of the top ten percent of places at the National Championships of the youth classes supported by the programme.

Performance goals

• Sailors have been supported to develop and review an annual set of performance and outcome goals.

• Sailors have been supported to implement a strength and conditioning program and are consistently improving their level of fitness.

• Sailors have been supported to develop nutrition awareness and are consistently improving their nutritional awareness.

• Sailors have been supported to implement a biomechanics analysis and development program and are consistently improving their biomechanical capability.

• Sailors have been provided with an “on the water” coaching programme and are demonstrating improved boat handling and racing technique.

• Sailors have been provided with an “off the water” coaching programme and are demonstrating improved tactical and technical understanding.

• Coaches have been supported to implement a coaching development plan and are demonstrating improved coaching repertoire.

2008 plan

The five programme elements to be delivered in 2008.

1: Coaching

Preparation for Laser Radial Worlds & YouthSail 2008

• Tuesday evening coaching: Feb - April

Preparation for sailors participating in European summer events

• Wednesday evening coaching: April - June

Preparation for Sydney International Regatta 2008, Sail Melbourne 2009, Laser Nationals 2009 & Sail Auckland 2009

• Kick start clinic: September

• Tuesday evening coaching: October - December

Preparation for Starling Nationals 2009

• Kick start clinic: September

• Tuesday evening coaching: October - December

• Pre nationals clinic: December

Coach development seminars

• April

• July

• September

Full details of coaching programme here

2: Strength & Conditioning [sailfit]

Full squad fitness sessions 1 hour per week

• Block one: 10 weeks beginning April

• Block two: 10 weeks beginning July

• Block three: 10 weeks beginning October

Fitness tests

• April

• June

• September

• December

Muscle balance screening

• September

Full details of strength and conditioning programme here

3: Biomechanics [hikehard] 

Hiking tests

• March

• June

• September

Full details of biomechanics programme here

4: Nutrition [eatwell] 

Nutrition seminars

• May: "Intro to sports nutrition"

• September: "The cook off"

Food diary analysis

• October

• December

Full details of nutrition programme here

5: Mental skills [sailsmart] 

Goal setting (& review)

• May

Goal review

• September

• December

Full details of mental skills programme here

Current activities 

• Wgtn U21 and Women's match racing squad training with Youth Scheme - Tuesday evenings at RPNYC

• Strength and conditioning sessions - Mondays 7.10AM - 8.10AM (meet at Sailing Academy).

• Fitness test Wednesday 23 July

Updates 
 

Invitation to sailors 

Youth sailors in the region covered by the Wellington Yachting Association who are campaigning nationally are invited to become part of the Wellington Yachting talent development programme. The definition of youth used for the programme is that used for the Trans Tasman Youth Match Racing circuit - i.e. under 21 years of age. Invited sailors will be sailing in classes above the junior level - i.e. have moved out of Optimist and P Classes.

Sailors are invited annually to join the Wellington Yachting Talent Development Programme (invitees are sanctioned by the Advisory Group) on the basis that they have the potential to one day be selected for the Yachting New Zealand Youth and High Performance programmes or to achieve international success on the youth match racing circuit. Invitations are issued directly to individuals. A general invitation is extended to all clubs in the Wellington Yachting Association so they can also put forward accomplished candidates for the programme. Sailors from the lower North Island are able to participate in clinic based elements of the programme. 

A limit of 25 sailors is included in the programme in any one year. Sailors who are carded through the national programme are able to receive support through the regional squad but their servicing will charged against their card. If more than 25 sailors register for the programme then a selection process is entered into. The selection process is undertaken by the Advisory Group. Sailor's past performance and commitment is used to select sailors for the programme. 

In 2008 on the water coaching is targeted at starling and laser sailors. Sport science support will be provided to these sailors plus sailors in the Wellington Youth Match Racing squad. Towards the end of 2008 a review will be undertaken to identify the classes to receive on the water coaching in 2009. 

Programme delivery team 

Head Coach: Dean Stanley
Coach: Elliott Cree
Coach: Greg Wright
Strength & Conditioning: Jamie Tout
Biomechanics: Bob Marshall
Nutrition: Kath Fouhy
Mental Skills: Warrick Sue

Advisory group

RPNYC: Brian Budd
WBBC: Andrew Paterson
WYA: Steve Macris
YNZ: Marty Watson
WCC: Ken Bailey
NZAS-NI: Deslea Wrathall

Facilities

Administration Office: RPNYC Sailing Academy
Sport Science Base: New Zealand Academy of Sport
On the Water Coaching: Worser Bay Boating Club

2008 Squad