THE

RUSSELL COUTTS

SAILING FOUNDATION

in association with

The Manly Sailing Club

The Manly Sailing Club (MSC) welcomes the support of the Russell Coutts Sailing Foundation (the Foundation) to encourage and develop junior sailing on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.

About the Junior Sailing Programme

The fundamental purpose of the Foundation is to introduce children to the joys of sailing and helping each participant to grow in character and personal confidence.

The programmes used will incorporate the coaching of sailing skills as well as providing opportunities for non-competitive fun events on the water and social events off the water for both the sailors and their families.

The Foundation recognises that while some participants may go on to achieve success at national and international level this will not be used as a measure of the success for the programme. The main measure will be the retention of young sailors to the sport who have had little or no previous contact with sailing.

The existing MSC Learn to Sail (LTS) programme has been included in the Foundation at the Level 1 stage. The O’pen Bic Class will cover Levels 2 and 3. Levels 1, 2 & 3 will follow the Yachting New Zealand (YNZ) Dinghy Learn to Sail guidelines. This programme is designed as an extension to the schools waterwise programme.

Level 1 will be using the MSC Optimist yachts. Levels 2 and 3 will use the O’pen Bic Class yachts. Certificates of attainment will be presented to course attendees who develop the skills taught in these courses.

Courses will be run by accredited YNZ coaches and other experienced yachtsmen and women from the MSC at Manly Beach, Whangaparaoa.

How to Apply

Application can be made by completing the attached form and sending it to [email protected] or Junior Sailing, PO Box 430, Whangaparaoa.

Applications are screened to ascertain the level at which a junior sailor should come into the programme. That screening process will include an interview with the youngster and a parent at the Manly Sailing Club.

Foundation Courses

Level 1 - Start Sailing

 Safety first

 Getting to know your boat

 Capsizing

 Getting your boat in and out of the water  On the land, get set… go!

 Tacking

 Gybing

 Points of sail

 Rules and meanings

Level 2 – Sailing Fast

 Learn more lingo

 Safety advanced

 Knot knowledge

 Weather, tides and currents

 Balance essentials

 Points of sail – advanced

 Launching and retrieving more tips

 Tacking technique

 The art of gibing

 Boat handling

Level 3 – Go Racing

 Learn the basics of racing

 Getting your boat balanced and fast

 How wind, water and weight affects your boat

 Learn how to start and finish like a pro

 How wind shifts affect you and how to use them to your advantage

 Thinking smart and planning ahead

 Learn good technique and positioning for clear mark roundings

 Learn how to read and understand the forecast and what this means for your race

 Preparing yourself for the regatta

 A look at the most common rules and situations racers encounter

Learn to Sail Course Fees

Levels 1 and 2

8 Days – 2.5 hours each session

If providing your own boat………………………………………………………………….. $ 125.00

Use of club boat includes maintenance etc………………………………………………. $ 150.00

Level 3

8 Days – 2.5 hours each session…………………………………………………….……. $ 300.00

Additional Fees

Levels 1 and 2…………………………………………………………………………………….. $ nil

Level 3 - Manly Sailing Club Junior Membership…………………………………….....… $ 75.00

Level 3 - New Zealand O’pen Bic Association………………………………………...…… $ 25.00

Course Scholarships

An opportunity exists for an applicant with some extenuating circumstances to be offered a scholarship to subsidise them through the course and or provide a Bic boat for a complete season. A scholarship will only be offered after reviewing the findings from the initial interview or at the completion of Level Two. The complete details of a scholarship will only be revealed to an applicant at the time of an offer being made.

Course Progression

Young sailors may join into any level but it is dependent on their experience. An interview will determine their most suited level.

Level 1: A beginner joining at Level 1 will complete the course and the Foundation will recommend the next step to take based on how well that student has progressed. Some youngsters may need a further course at Level 1 to gain enough confidence to step up to Level 2. Level 1 will be completed in Optimist dinghies.

Level 2: Those entering Level 2 will complete this course in the O’pen Bic Class. Being a slightly bigger but less stable boat they are fast and fun to sail. Youngsters that do not own an O’pen Bic will have use of a Foundation boat for this course.

Level 3: Following completion of Level 2 the coaching in Level 3 becomes a little more advanced with race training. If a young sailor is showing natural ability and talent at the conclusion of this course, parents will be offered a way forward to either purchase their own Bic or enter the scholarship program in order for the young sailor to continue his/her development. Youngsters who own their own O’pen Bic’s may return to Level 3 as many times as they wish.

Those entering Level 3 would be expected to become members of the MSC and the O’pen Bic

Association and must be members of these organisations if they wish to legally participate in organised racing.

These organisations provide and maintain valuable assets necessary for the program such as safety boats and coaching materials. They actively promote and encourage the interests of junior sailors.

What to bring when attending courses

Applicants will need to bring:

 Swim suit

 Life-jacket

 Bottled water and lunch/snacks

 Sunblock, hat, sunglasses, rash shirt

 Windbreaker

 Warm clothing

 Closed in soft beach shoes or neoprene booties

 Wetsuits (if you have)

 Sailing gloves (if you have)

Sailing clothing is dependent on seasonal conditions. For the first-time applicants the MSC can provide life-jackets but not wetsuits.

Foundation Administration

The Foundation has been initiated by Sir Russell Coutts who has enlisted the help of some key people to ensure continuity of the programmes.

Russell Coutts needs little introduction as his pedigree is well known worldwide for his achievements with a World Youth title an Olympic Gold Medal and Americas Cup Winner. He has a strong desire to ensure New Zealand’s young sailors have a chance to discover sailing and improve their water skills, developing confidence as well as learning other key life skills such as the value of preparation and teamwork. He has assumed a leading role in the foundations activities.

Barry Thom is a highly respected businessman who in his own right is an extremely accomplished yachtsman in both boardsailing and dinghy racing. He also shares Russell’s vision in bringing young sailors forward.

Fiona Rist is a super organised person that the Foundation needs to keep law and order while looking after the Foundation’s interests. Fiona has a son in the O’pen Bic racing fleet.

Geoff Dawson has many years in the sport with a son already sailing in the O’pen Bic Class. He is a very handy man to have around a programme such as this where his many skills are needed repairing fittings, cordage etc. He is also an accomplished Race Officer.

Harold Bennett has coached junior, youth and Olympic sailors as well as spending 18 years officiating Americas Cup races over 5 Americas Cups. He shares the very same vision as Russell with junior sailing and has been the link to the Manly Sailing Club.

Foundation Coaching

The foundation has enlisted the services of some very good young coaches who are all accredited Yachting New Zealand Coaches.

Where and when the opportunity arises, well known experienced yachtsmen and women will be invited to join some coaching clinics to bring an outside incentive to the youngsters.

New Zealand O’pen Bic Class Association

The Class Association exists to provide alignment across the various regional fleets of O’pen Bic yachts sailed throughout New Zealand with fleets developing in Dunedin, Queenstown, Nelson, Wanganui and Manly.

A core value of the Class Association is retaining the fun element within sailing and encouraging sailing excellence.

The Class Association shares the vision of the Foundation as a way forward for young sailors wanting to continue with progression within the sport.

The O’pen Bic Class worldwide is gaining strength and it offers many opportunities to take youngsters through to senior sailing.

There are regattas held throughout New Zealand that attract sailors from Australia and the Pacific Islands and each year there is a World Championship held somewhere in the world for those very keen sailors.