Skip Lissiman to head-up Australian Sailing’s Youth Advisory Panel

by Jane Gordon on 5 Aug 2016 Skip Lissiman OAM has been appointed the inaugural Chair of Australian Sailing’s Youth Advisory Panel. The Panel will provide advice and support to the Board and Management of Australian Sailing on matters of policy relating to junior and youth sailing.

A well-regarded and experienced sailor, Skip has recently retired from heading up Swan River Sailing and the West Australian Yachting Foundation which focused on delivering team building and leadership programs and developing youth match racing sailors. During this time, he also chaired the Warren Jones Regatta.

Skip’s own extensive sailing background includes crew member of ‘Australia II’ in the successful 1983 America’s Cup and the Louis Vuitton Cup in 1983; crew on ‘Ragamuffin’ winning the 1979 Admirals Cup and first on corrected time in the Parmelia Race in 1979. He is also an Australian Champion in the J24s’ and Australian Match Racing and continues to race in the Etchells class where he was the National Champion in 2006/07. In 1984, Skip was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to sailing.

Australian Sailing’s Youth Advisory Panel has been tasked to advise and assist Australian Sailing Management formulate the policies and procedures to achieve the strategic initiatives of the youth program.

Australian Sailing President Matt Allen was pleased to announce the appointment saying, “The development of our young sailors is very important for the future of our sport and the Youth Advisory Panel will play a key role in advising and assisting the Board and Management as we create and deliver the plan.

“Skip brings a vast array of knowledge and experience, both on and off water and we are grateful to him for his willingness to continue to foster our young sailors”, Matt added.

In addition the Youth Advisory Panel shall provide advice on the following specific initiatives:
• Establishment of best practice youth sailing programs, classes and equipment (including multihulls, sail and kite boards) used at clubs.
• Development of systems and resources for transitioning learn to sail participants to club members, and youth sailors to adult sailing.
• Educating parents on equipment, competition, culture, behaviours and their role in athlete development.
• Establishment of education pathways programs from ‘learn to sail' to performance sailing, and the balance between social sailing and racing.
• Determining appropriate culture and safety philosophies and standards, structure and format for youth competitions.