Team Racing WA

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Team Racing WA

• The future?

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Current Status - Youth orientated

• YWA TR programs to clubs
• One series - Interclub
• 3 regattas
• Secondary Schools TRC
• FSC Youth Regatta
• Open State TRC
• Note only one regatta for Open aged sailors

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Australia in the World of TR

• The average age of our TR sailors is very young
• At West Kirby (UK) and the Worlds, the average
  age is in the 25 to 30 area - dominated mainly by
  USA and UK.
• Many of these Open sailors have been sailing
  together in excess of 5 years (some a lot more)
  to have the team smarts for TR - they are
  consistently good
• New Zealand is the only other country I know that
  has young sailors.

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Australia in the World of TR

• New Zealand has created a separate NZ TR Assoc.
  as in incorporated body with very close ties to
  NZ Sailing. This has given them the ability to
  seek sponsorship - now have 18 x 420s of their
  own for TR. (420 being common in the Open TR
  Worlds - Fireflies for 2007!)
• UK - 7 Oaks school uses 420s, West Kirby uses
  Fireflies, BUSA uses Laser 2s and a similar 2
  handed.
• USA - College 420s at School level, Vanguards
  at open level. Has strong Inter Collegiate (UNI)
  and Inter Scholastic Programs

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Other States School TR

• Qld has a lot more teams involved in TR having
  Zoned finals and State Championships from those
  finals. Results at recent Nationals has not been
  as high as you would imagine
• Tasmania - Very strong in Hobart with 3 schools -
  all under one coach. Huge recent results -
  consistent
• SA and NSW have been strong in the past - Port
  Lincoln rebuilding.
• Vic have about 10 schools at the States

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Within WA - School TR

• WA has an increasing number of teams at School
  States
• 3 or 4 in early 90s
• around 10 in late 90s
• high teens recently with potential for 20 in
  2007 - 2 entries per school has helped.
• Move from Rounds based format to Swiss League
  has allowed more teams at one championship.

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WA in Australia - Open TR

• Tasmania is the only state I know of that has
  Open sailors involved in regular TR.
• Tasmania has big advantage in having mentoring
  with Youth TR sailors using the older sailors.
  lineal development rather than cyclic! Slightly
  more mature approach to TR?
• Post school TR sailors disappear from this
  scene - Relative to numbers who have TR over last
  15 years, WA State Championships are not strong.
  Is this no opportunity, other interests or not
  interested?

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Quality of WA Team Racing

• Built on the strong schools program, we have a
  few high quality Open TR sailors in WA that can
  match it with anyone in Australia.
• At World level, we have a few more rungs on the
  ladder to climb to achieve success
• How do we get there?

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WA TR Assetts

• In excess of 10 Pacer fleets of varying age and
  condition in the State
• Good, but aging/over used Umpire group for what
  is an umpire thirsty sport - action required!
• The expertise/experience available for this
  sport, but limited to a few - needs to broaden!
• YWA, Ron Tough Foundation and an increasing
  number of clubs supporting this sport.

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Australias negative side

• Relative to most countries, Australia does not
  have a good reputation for sportsmanship at World
  events!
• Significant tendency to argue back to the umpires
  and officials.
• Lack of good rules understanding and how the game
  should be played.
• Partly explained by the age of our competitors -
  a culture thing with our football?
• Has been stamped upon by umpires at recent events
  with strategies implemented.

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Recommendations - Umpires

• Interclub - have 3 teams per venue
• alternating 2 racing and 1 umpiring under the
  guidance of an experienced umpire
• Have a career path with more steps for umpires in
  the initial phase of learning to umpire - series
  of intro courses?
• Promote umpire programs - benefits
• TR will continue if they put back into the sport
• Competitors will have a better understanding of
  rules and the conditions under which umpires work
  better TR sailors

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Recommendations - Open Sailors

• Interclub - this series becomes an event open to
  both Youth and Open Sailors
• Open TR Sailors in Clubs take on leadership /
  mentoring roles in teams taking part in the
  Interclub Series
• Development of a larger core group of Open
  sailors through above program - benefits
• Higher quality sailors with recent Pacer
  experience
• Direct feed back of skills developed at National
  and World events
• Open sailors more likely to succeed at National
  level and be selected for International
  competition.
• When there are enough Open sailors to hold their
  own regular competition - split the Open and
  Youth to 2 regattas.

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Recommendations - Youth Sailors

• Interclub - this series becomes an event open to
  both Youth and Open Sailors -
• is there room for more than one team per club?
• Would this work?
• If we introduce Open sailors to this event are we
  closing out younger sailors?
• If so, which option has the best result for
  furthering WAs Team Racing.
• Introduce TR as a training tool for classes at
  WestSail in the 3rd Term school holidays. It is a
  great way to learn rules and the application of
  those rules on the water.

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Recommendations - TR Administration

• Team Racing has grown in WA over the last 15
  years and could now be considered to have come
  of age as a fully recognized sport in its own
  right.
• Is it time for TR to have its own committee on
  YWA for further development?
• Administratively, TR tends to take on the format
  of what it leads to. State events are modeled on
  the Nationals, the Nationals influenced on what
  happens in NZ (and they by us), and that
  influenced by what happens in Europe and the US.
• Having our own committee gives this state the
  opportunity to be represented at National level
  (I currently do) and set the standards by which
  we would operate at State level.

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Your contributions to the development of Team
Racing in WA is important Please put your ideas
in writing to Michael Downing at YWA or Email me
at ronjensen_at_westnet.net.au
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