Noosa Yacht & Rowing Club’s learn to sail programs

by Ian Grant on 11 Jul 2006 Several high profile Queensland sailing clubs are undertaking a close study of the success Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club is achieving with their learn to sail programs.

The Club continues to be enormously successful with schools and the community placing a heavy demand on their fleet of Sabots, Vagabonds, 29er skiffs and the popular Blazer Yalumba Challenger.

Highly qualified resident club coach Kai Timm covers the broad spectrum of experience in racing strict one design Olympic Laser dinghies, Blazer keel yachts and major blue water classics including a Brisbane to Gladstone line honours as a key crew member on the Peter Hollis skippered Heaven Can Wait.

Timm has blended this experience into his informative learn to sail programs that encourages first time sailors to feel safe and confident as they progressively learn to master sailing free with the wind.

He has a busy schedule over the mid winter school holidays and this will intensify as the Sunshine Coast Sabot and Blazer 23 class crews prepare for major championship events on the tricky Noosa River course.

The highly competitive Blazer 23 fleet will host the exciting Go To Blazers fleet match racing championship in mid-August while the South Queensland Sabot Association have chosen the venue for the important River Title trophy in September-October.

Sunshine Coast champion Chris Annear and his Blazer 23 crew sailing Feral staged a tenacious battle to beat former Australian champions Peter Lahey (Still Crazy) and Urgent (Neil Sherring) on their clubs Southport Broadwater course and this win has installed Feral as the trophy favourite when Australia’s best Blazer 23 crews tension the sails for the prestigious title.

Annear will have a decided advantage on his home course but this will not guarantee a successful defence of the trophy as his closest rivals Lahey and Sherring are preparing to present a wind shadowing strategy that promises to challenge the Noosa River champion skipper and crew.