On Saturday 3 May, Commodore Matt Allen hosted the welcome breakfast for this year’s Youth Sailing Academy Winter Squads which include Talented Sailors, Development Match Racing and Advanced squads.

More than 80 students make up this year’s squad with sailors aged from 13 to 22 including one dedicated sailor, Kieran Searle (18yrs old), who travels over 680kms every fortnight just to attend training.

Vice Commodore and Training and Development Chairman Garry Lincacre announced the squad members and asked a few questions of each group as to why they were sailing. One particular young sailor stood out – Edward Whitelock from Drummoyne Sailing Club who said “It has always been my dream sail in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race aboard Wild Oats…To get there I know that I will have to train through the Talented Sailor squad and progress up to the Advanced Squad.”  

Vice Commodore Linacre responded by saying that next time he sees Bob Oatley he would ask Bob to put Edward on the list!

The Talented Sailor Squad comprises of 25 young sailors and will be coached by Tom Barker (CYCA’s 2006-07 Ocean Racing Crew Person of the Year)  & Evan Walker, winner of the 2008 Hardy Cup ISAF Grade 3 Match Racing Regatta and 2007 Australian Open Match Racing Championship; and Gold Medalist, Hobie 16 class, at the 2004 ISAF World Young Championships.

Both Evan and Tom have moved through the ranks of the YSA squads and have represented the CYCA in many regattas. Tom is considered a ‘world-class’ crew person by his skipper Ed Psalitis of AFR Midnight Rambler , where Tom is both a bowman and helmsman. Both Evan and Tom are passionate about providing young sailors with opportunities and developing their skills throughout their extensive period of training.

Additionally, upcoming prominent youth sailor Gabrielle King will be coaching the Talented Squad. Gabrielle was awarded the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Youth Sailor of The Year 2008 at the Australian Yachting Awards held last Friday. This adds to Gabrielle’s other titles of the 2007 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Champion and Women’s 2008 Laser Radial Youth World Champion, NSW Youth Championships and the 2007 and 2008 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championships. She has been selected for the 2008 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Youth Team and will be heading to Denmark in July to defend her Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship title.

Both Evan and Tom will also coach the 27 member Development Match Racing Squad.

The Advanced Squad has 26 members and will be coached by Andrew Baglin, Rob Bell & Neville Wittey, all prominent sailors with great experience in regattas and match racing.  Andrew Baglin is a qualified National Umprie and has worked extensively with the advanced squad in previous years. Rob Bell is crew member on board “Gotta Love it 7”, the current 18ft skiff world champions and is a previous graduate of the YSA. Neville Wittey is a well renowned sailor, ex-Olympian and sailing commentator.

Commenting on the new Winter Squads, Sailing Manager Justine Kirkjian said “With the calibre of our coaching staff and extensive calendar of events, our  objective of  producing the clubs future ocean racing champions as well as world class sailors is looking very positive.”