Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments 2024 Leaderboard

Wotif.com Youth Programme for Sydney Hobart

by Lisa Ratcliff on 14 Nov 2006
Wots Next- 2005 Savills SORC Sail-World.com /AUS http://www.sail-world.com
Graeme Wood, CEO of Wotif.com (www.wotif.com), Australasia’s leading accommodation website, announced today that he will be entering two boats in the 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart, with one being entered as part of a new exciting youth programme.

At the launch event, held today at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) in Sydney, Graeme announced that following his IRC divisional win in the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart with his Sydney 47, Wot’s Next, and successfully listing Wotif.com on the ASX in June of this year, he is embarking upon a new challenge by entering his new Transpac 52, Wot Yot, as well championing a new youth programme with Wot’s Next.

Wot’s Next is going to sail in the race for a second year, steered this time by a crew of experienced and talented youth sailors selected from a group of keen candidates from the CYCA’s Youth Sailing Academy

The twist for the Wot’s Next youth crew is that in order to earn their place in the race, they are also required to participate in a mentoring program with students from Blacktown Tutorial Centre and to teach them how to sail.

The centre educates late-teenagers which mainstream schools are reluctant to take and Graeme is hopeful that the plan, inspired by crew member Bill Sykes - a head teacher at the centre, will teach both groups of youths some valuable lessons in life.

Two of the six youth sailors selected were announced today at the official launch – Mark Langford, 21, who will line up for his first Rolex Sydney Hobart, and 17 year old Will Ryan who will turn 18 three days before the Boxing Day start, thereby just meeting the minimum age restriction.*

Bill Sykes and Bill Riley with 42 Rolex Sydney Hobart’s between them, and Genevieve White with her Rolex Sydney Hobart and Volvo Ocean Race experience will sail with the youths and provide a strong backbone to the Wot’s Next crew.

In addition to entering Wot’s Next, Graeme will skipper Wot Yot, one of the more interesting new yachts in the 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet, with his crew of offshore stalwarts including the veteran campaign manager Dave Ellis (CYCA Crew Person of the Year in 2004-05) and other members of the 2002 Rolex Sydney Hobart Overall winner Quest.

Graeme’s company, Wotif.com, has made travel more accessible for the wider public through selling hotel rooms online at great rates, and on a smaller scale he hopes that his youth program for the Rolex Sydney Hobart will make sailing a reality for a few youths who might not have otherwise had the opportunity.

'Offshore racing is one of the last great adventures,' says Wood. 'It makes us all learn more about ourselves and the more people who can be exposed to it, the better.

'I’m hoping that both the experienced youth sailors from the CYCA and students from Blacktown Tutorial Centre will learn a lot from this mentoring programme,' he added.

Next year Graeme hopes to extend the programme, which could see some of the Blacktown students actually sailing in Australia’s greatest yacht race.

Jenni Bonnitcha of the CYCA commented: 'It’s not a scheme that’s likely to yield instant and spectacular results and will demand patience and understanding from everyone involved. But by donating his boat, time and the considerable costs of a second campaign, Graeme has made a huge contribution.'

Graeme admits that he faces the possible embarrassment of funding an entry that might do better in the 2006 race than his new yacht. 'If they beat us, that’d be wonderful,' he said. 'I can justify having two holes in the water instead of one if it inspires a few young people in the right direction.'
Zhik 2024 DecemberVaikobi Custom TeamwearNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Related Articles

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Day 1
A dazzling start in light airs and glorious sunshine Light airs and glorious sunshine dominated play on this first day of competition in the 27th edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez.
Posted on 29 Sep
Breaking Point in Germany
New Racing on the Edge episode captures SailGP's most extreme test yet The latest episode of Racing on the Edge, SailGP's acclaimed behind-the-scenes docuseries, launches today with "Breaking Point: The Sassnitz Miracle".
Posted on 29 Sep
2025 Philadelphia Cup Regatta
Defiant & Jawn Win Classes Wind is everything in sailboat racing. So, it was knowing how to manage Mother Nature's whisper of breath on Saturday at the 2025 Philadelphia Cup Regatta which proved the secret to success for the event's class winners.
Posted on 29 Sep
J/70 Worlds 2025 Essentials Webinar
Unlocking the Río de la Plata The waters off Buenos Aires are unlike anywhere else on the J/70 circuit — a river with tides, unique wave patterns, strong gusts and chocolate-brown water create challenges and opportunities for every team.
Posted on 29 Sep
Switch UK Championship at the WPNSA overall
Four races held in Portland Harbour to determine the inaugural champion! At the top of the fleet Fin Dickinson and Sam Whaley went into the day on equal points, thanks to the unique 'daily ranking' scoring system, so it was all on the line.
Posted on 29 Sep
Antoine Mermod The Ocean Race Europe success
IMOCA President looks back at the superb second edition The second edition of The Ocean Race Europe is now behind us - an event that produced compelling racing over seven hectic weeks on a course that circled Europe, from Kiel to Boka Bay in Montenegro, and with one clear winner at the end in Biotherm.
Posted on 29 Sep
Crossroads Moment for Olympic Sailing
Many changes to scoring over the last 20 years - it looks like it's all going to change again Perceived lack of attention span, confusing scoring systems, the need for TV to have an understandable format and grandstand' moment has led Olympic sailing to experiment with various formats over the past 20 years, and it is now looking to change again.
Posted on 29 Sep
Cascais J/70 Winter Series - Portuguese Nationals
This Championship held particular weight, as it served as a qualifier for the 2026 J/70 Worlds The Clube Naval de Cascais hosted the Cascais J/70 Winter Series - Portuguese National Championship, bringing together 22 boats from 8 nations for a regatta marked by tactical racing, international talent, and the powerful influence of Storm Gabrielle.
Posted on 29 Sep
2025 ILCA Master Worlds at Formia, Italy
Aa week of challenging conditions and fierce international competition The 2025 ILCA Master World Championships came to a close on Sunday in Formia, wrapping up a week of challenging conditions, fierce international competition, and unforgettable moments both on and off the water.
Posted on 29 Sep
2025 J/88 North American Championship overall
No additional racing on the final day due to light and unstable breeze The 2025 J/88 North American Championship, hosted by the Annapolis Yacht Club, concluded on Sunday, September 28, with no additional racing due to light and unstable breeze.
Posted on 28 Sep