General Manager – Queensland Monthly Update June 2023

The latest updates from Australian Sailing's General Manager – Queensland – Annie Watson.

Please click this link to find a copy of all past Queensland General Managers Updates. 

General Update 

This month we have added another Sailing Club to our Queensland Community. The Douglas Sailing Club is an off-the-beach club in Port Douglas with a particular interest in catamarans. They are quick off the mark and are holding their first regatta this July. It's great to have them on board. 

This month I attended the QSport Conference and the ASC Participation Workshop. Both days were full of helpful information and gave me confidence that our sport was heading in the right direction. In fact, we are leading the way in many areas. The Participation Workshop was interactive, and we looked at sport from many different angles and provided feedback and insights that get fed back into the Strategy. If you would like to have some input into the ASC Participation Strategy, you can complete a survey here: https://www.sailing.org.au/news/have-your-say-sport-participation-survey-now-open/  

Having the opportunity to network with other General Managers and CEOs of different sports at these events allows us to build relationships to collaborate and use best practices for excellent outcomes for our clubs. You can watch Kieran Perkins, CEO of ASC, keynote address from the QSport Conference here from time stamp 37:00 https://fb.watch/kLXe_y5g-o/   

Alison has been working out of Darwin with General Manager Claire Hall. She has come back with some fantastic ideas for Queensland Discover Sailing Centres. It's always great to have another perspective. Call Alison if you want to hear how other clubs are using their DSCs as another revenue source for their club.   

Grant supported the Brisbane Valley Sailing Club Winter Marathon and caught up with many members from different clubs, including Darling Downs Sailing Club. It is lovely to see that our community has welcomed them so quickly. 

The Yachting Queensland Board held an online forum this month to discuss the possibility of de-registering the legal entity of Yachting Queensland. If you missed the session, you can watch it here:   

Queensland Sailing Awards – Nominations are now Open! 

Who are you going to nominate this year? We hope to see more clubs represented by nominating the incredible people in our Queensland Sailing Community. And to all our clubs, we think you are fantastic, so consider nominating your club this year. There are now two categories and two awards for Club of the Year. If you aren't in it, you can't win it!   

Action Item/s for Club: 

• Don't leave it to the last minute to nominate, get started today. 

Training in Focus – Live 

The 2023 Training in Focus - Live events will provide a great opportunity for Instructors, Discover Sailing Centre Principles and Training administrators to receive hands-on learning via workshops, practical on water activities, the opportunity to try a new discipline such as windsurfing, SUPs or Foiling and of course, plenty of time to share ideas and best practice amongst peers. 

Accredited Instructors who attend the Training in Focus – Live events this year, will automatically have their qualifications extended for a further 12 months, assisting to further remove the barriers to reaccreditation. 

Action Item/s for Club: 

• Make a day of this professional development opportunity for your full instructor team: Register today: https://www.sailing.org.au/events/177350/  

Youth Sail Queensland 

Keppel Bay Sailing Club is once again hosting Youth Sail Queensland. In 2022 Youth Sail Queensland was the largest youth regatta Nationally.   

QAS Head Coach Mitch Kennedy is leading the coaching team, and they will be delivering three days of skill development for all levels of junior and youth sailors. Youth Sail Queensland also plays host to professional development sessions for our coaches. 

Senior Instructor Ash Stephens once again heads Green Fleet. His team will be having loads of fun with the newest members of our sport in a safe environment at the Causeway Lake. Green Fleet is aimed at children who have completed Tackers Three and can get around a course. Green Fleet has a limited entry, so make sure you let your juniors know about Youth Sail and register early so they don't miss out.  

Action Item/s for Club: 

• Start talking to your junior and youth parents about Youth Sail Queensland. Consider offering event support from your club. There is plenty of information about the event on the website https://www.sailingyouth.org.au/qld-state-champs/   

• If you have an instructor or coach you think would benefit from attending this event, don't hesitate to get in touch with me. 

Any questions on the above topics please contact the General Manager - QLD, Annie Watson at  annie.watson@sailing.org.au You can find a fill list of Australian Sailing Contacts – here.