Tackers on the rise - the Australian junior sailing success story

by Daisy Brooke on 26 Jun 2013 The launch of the Discover Sailing website in 2012 was an important milestone for Tackers, bringing a contemporary online presence to the program for the public.

The site is dedicated for people new to sailing and provides information about the programs and services available at the network of clubs and Discover Sailing Centres. The search function links to MyCentre and MyClub so remember to have all your Centre information and courses listed corrected. Clubs who are looking for information about Tackers or the Discover Sailing program should visit yachting.org.au/participation.

MHYC Junior Membership quadruples as a results of Tackers
NSW flag-ship Tackers Centre, Middle Harbour Yacht Club is a thrilling hub for junior sailing thanks to the efforts of the dedicated Tackers Centre team led by Manager of Marine Operations, Alister Copley. With the support of the Club Committee, Alister introduced Tackers to the club four years ago and has developed a structured Pathway from Tackers through to Green Fleet. The family-focused club now has 450 junior members and credit much of the growth in membership to the Tackers program.

Channel 9 advertising draws the crowds to Darwin Sailing Club’s Tackers program
Using footage provided by Yachting Australia, Yachting Northern Territory and Darwin Sailing Club scheduled advertising on Channel 9 television for Tackers. The club experienced an overwhelming response to the ad and quickly sold out places on their Tackers courses.

Ten Instructors and Assistants have completed the Tackers Instructor Induction and the programs will run through the NT sailing season. The club intends to welcome over 100 Tackers participants and their families to Tackers.

Yachting South Australia use Adelaide Boat Show as platform for Tackers
The Boating Industry Association’s Adelaide Boat Show held 21st-23rd June provided the perfect opportunity for Yachting South Australia and Adelaide Sailing Club to jointly promote Tackers. The club provided boats and instructors to be at the event, running Tackers Intros and distributing brochures about the program. Approximately 500 families with primary school aged children were at the Boat Show. Yachting South Australia also offered a prize of a place on a Tackers 1 – Having Fun course at Adelaide Sailing Club for one participant.

South Australian Premier Jay Wetherill visited the Tackers team at the Boat Show.

Malcolm Page helps Buoyed-Up bring kids from all backgrounds to Tackers
‘Buoyed-Up with Tackers’ is a program that introduces children from disadvantage backgrounds to sailing through the Tackers program. Set-up in Canberra last year, the program involves working with a community organisation to provide kids who would not normally be able to participate in Tackers with the chance to get involved in the program. Buoyed-Up is led by Canberra Yacht Club CEO Matt Owen and funded through donations and fund raising activities by club members and the local community. Each participant is offered a long-term pathway in the sport starting with Tackers 1, 2 and 3 and then into an Assistant Instructor role and ongoing participation.

Olympic Gold Medallist is the program Ambassador and has generously provided his time to visit the program and meet the participants. Congratulations to 130 participants who have already started on the Tackers Pathway with Buoyed-Up in Canberra.

‘Buoyed-Up with Tackers’ is now looking for Tackers Centres in other States and Territories to be involved and ensure that disadvantaged children in their area also have the chance to participate in Tackers. If your Tackers Centre would like to find out more about the program, contact Matt Owen (matt.owen@canberrayachtclub.com.au) and visit the Yachting Australia website (yachting.org.au/participation) to watch a video about ‘Buoyed-Up with Tackers’.

Tackers Instructors WANTED!
We have 550 Tackers endorsed Instructors and Assistant Instructors but we need more! Yachting Australia has received feedback from all State and Territories Associations that getting more suitably qualified, energetic and passionate Tackers Instructors and Assistant Instructors is a priority for the continued growth of the program. We are addressing peak-season shortfall in instructor capacity by advertising in the UK for seasonal staff. Tackers Centres should contact their State Tackers Leader to express an interest in accessing instructors from overseas.

In July, August, and September 2013, Yachting Australia are advertising in UK sailing magazine ‘Yachts & Yachting’ and through the magazine’s social media sites. Tackers Centre can also advertise within Australia by using the Yachting Australia classified section of the website www.yachting.org.au/classifieds to advertise for Instructors.

Darwin Sailing Club welcomes Instructors from other States and Territories to apply to instruct Tackers at the club from April to September. Contact Deb Negus (deb.negus@gmail.com) or Steve Winspear (swinspear@bigpond.com) at Darwin Sailing Club for more information.

New Tackers Online Shop and Merchandising program
From September 1st 2013 Tackers Centres will enjoy an improved merchandising program with the launch of a new Tackers Online Shop and distribution system. DMC Licensing (DMC) will now provide end-to-end customer service for all Tackers merchandise. All Tackers participant kits, Instructor kits, and promotional material will be accessed through the online shop. In addition, DMC will be introducing an exciting range of new Tackers branded products for parents, instructors, and centres to purchase. Look out for great system improvements such as an option for express shipping.

Don’t forget the extensive range of free promotional material exclusively available to Tackers Centres through the online shop:

- A4 and A3 posters
- 6DL brochures
- Activity sheets
- ‘What to Bring’ magnets
- Name tags
- Bumper stickers
- Photo frames (now include in every Tackers participant kit)

Whitworths Continue support of Tackers
Whitworths Marine and Leisure have extended their relationship with Tackers to provide 75 boats to Queensland Tackers Centres over the next five years. This is in addition to the support they have provided to Tackers Centres in Victoria. Olympic Gold Medalists Malcolm Page and Matt Belcher were VIPs at the launch of the first 15 new boats at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in November 2012.

Peter Woolley Managing Director of Whitworths who says 'the number of young kids sailing is a major influence on the health of sailing as a sport, our clubs and the industry for the next generation and this is a strategic decision by Whitworths to extend our major support to the Tackers program into Queensland'

Yachting Australia would like to thank Whitworths for their continued support of Tackers.

Kids of all-abilities participating in Tackers in Tasmania
Having no sight in one eye and impaired vision in the other is proving no limitation to nine-year-old Hamish Menzie’s from Hobart getting out of the water with friends in the Tackers program at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. A donation through the Yachting Australia Sailability Fund has allowed Hamish to participate in Tackers - what a terrific example of how Tackers is accessible to kids of all-abilities. To read this Case Study and others, visit yachting.org.au/participation.

Perth Tacker Receives a new OziOpti Boat in the Yachting Australia Win a Boat Competition!

The winner of the Yachting Australia ‘Win an OziOpti Competition’ was Kyle de Bruin from Royal Perth Yacht Club.

Tackers Values and Australian Sports Commission ‘Playing for Life Philosophy’ Perfectly aligned
The fun, non-competitive and social values of Tackers are confirmed with recent studies conducted by the Australian Sports Commission into how best to engage children in long-term participation in sport. The ASC have produced a fantastic snap-shot video explaining the ‘Playing for Life Philosophy’.

http://www.ausport.gov.au/information/nsr/playing_for_life_validation_study



Federal Government to continue the Active After-School Communities Program
The Active After-school Communities program assists by providing access to free, inclusive and positive sporting experiences to children after school.The Gillard Government invested $115 million in community sports participation programs in the 2013-14 Budget, including the Active After-school Communities program. This will ensure the Active After-school Communities program is funded until 31 December 2014.The Active After-school Communities program is currently delivered at more than 3200 sites across Australia to about 190,000 children.The funding the AASC provide to Schools and After School Care Centres pays for instructors and equipment so that sport can be taught to children after school.The main aim of the AASC program is to work with local clubs and help to increase junior participation. This is achieved by:

• Locating clubs that are keen to increase junior participation and work with the AASC
• Locating clubs that may require grants for additional equipment
• Training instructors to deliver the AASC program through our one day FREE course
• Working with the club to ensure ongoing participation of the children in the programs
• Club can earn up to $60 per session with additional grants often provided to support activities.

For more information contact your Tackers State Leader and visit the website

Tackers Centre website health check

Does your centre/club website provided a great shop window for Tackers? Here are some things we recommend that all Tackers Centre have on their website:

- Tackers logo on the homepage
- Tackers video for kids and parents
- Tackers Pathway diagram ….click here to download now
- Course dates and times
- Clear information about how to book and preferably online booking available
- Display prices – with information about what is included
- Photo gallery – a picture speaks a thousand words

Win a Go-ProHERO3 by sending us your best video of Tackers fun and games
Tackers Instructors and Assistant Instructors have the chance to win a Go-ProHERO3 in a competition to find the best video of Tackers fun and games in Australia. Each video should be no more than 60 seconds long and should show how awesome Tackers is for kids. Upload the videos onto You Tube and send the link to dbrooke@yachting.org.au for your chance to win. Entries close on 28th February 2014.

Tackers Participation – Target 5,000
Tackers is aiming to deliver a secure future for sailing clubs by generating high volumes of participants to covert, along with their families, to membership. Our target for 2013/14 is an achievable 5,000 Tackers participants. Every Tackers Centre plays an important role in this target – be part of the success and think about how you can bring more Tackers participants to your Centre.

Tips from leading Tackers Centre, Canberra Yacht Club (390 participants in 2012/13)

• Get Committee support and feedback to them regularly on progress
• Plan – your season, your equipment, your instructor roster, your local marketing
• Focus on customer experience – for the participant and their parents
• Communicate regularly with parents (face-to-face, online, by phone)
• Online booking – easy for customers and reduces admin time
• Use all the Yachting Australia Tackers resources
• Look at your feedback forms from parents and be ready to improve your program

Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club deliver Tackers Intro for Schools with great success
80 participants from St Thomas More Primary School in Noosa took part in the ‘Tackers Intro for Schools’ program at Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club as a part of a promotion for the Tackers courses at the club. The day was organised by Jaime-Lee Thomasson who is regarded as an exceptional Instructor and developing high potential as a sailing co-ordinator.

‘Tackers Intro for Schools’ is a promotional component of the Tackers program consisting of school groups participating during the school day. The aim is to provide the participants with a chance to actively engage in the program for the first time and encourage them to register for Tackers 1 – Having Fun. Participants receive a ‘Tackers Intro for Schools’ certificate. Contact your State Tackers Leader to find out more about ‘Tackers Intro for Schools’.

Helping kids and parents on Tackers Pathway
Yachting Australia have developed a new illustration to help kids and parents understand the steps of the Tackers Pathway. Free print copies of the Tackers Pathway are available through the online shop. If your Tackers Centre wants to find out more about ‘Green Fleet’ go to yachting.org.au/participation for information. Yachting Australia will be developing some additional resources to assist clubs in the delivery of ‘Green Fleet’. Your State Tackers Leader will be able to provide you with guidance on helping participants make an effective transition from Tackers 3 – Sailing Fast! to Green Fleet.