Mark Robinson leaves CYCA
by Peter Campbell on 4 Apr 2002
Mark Robinson will leave his position as Technical Operations Officer, managing the Sailing Office of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, tomorrow after eight years with the Club.
He has decided to broaden his experience by taking on the role as Head Coach for the Thailand National Sailing Team preparing for 2002 Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea, in September.
Now aged 27, Mark became the youngest sailing administrator ever at the CYCA when he stepped into the onerous task on the eve of the 2000 Sydney Hobart Race. He then completed an outstanding job in organising and managing the 2001 Race, despite having to severely reduce the budget with no sponsor for the event.
Apart from his role as a sailing administrator, Mark has become the AYF Chief IMS Measurer, working closely with the Australian Yachting Federation's Tony Mooney. His services have also been sought by clubs running other major events, including Hamilton Island Race Week in Queensland and the Australian Offshore Keelboat Championships in South Australia.
Mark joined the CYCA as a coach with the Club's Youth Sailing Academy. After two years he joined the Sailing Office staff, expanding his technical knowledge of the sport and upgrading computer services to members. The Club's internet results service to competitors is considered among the best in Australia.
Apart from being an excellent sailing administrator with a thorough knowledge of the IMS and IRC rating rules, Mark is a keen and successful sailor, beginning with Sabots as a youngster in Brisbane. He has since sailed Flying 11s, 420s, 470s (including the Sydney 2000 Olympic Trials), 12-foot and 16-foot skiffs and currently, an International Moth.
In the Moth class, he finished 11th in the 2001 World Championships last October in Japan and was elected President of the International Moth Class Association. The 2003 Worlds will be held in France in May.
Mark has also raced offshore mainly on Atara and Ausmaid as a tactician, competing in races from Sydney to Southport and Mooloolaba and the Brisbane to Gladstone Race, as well as Hayman and Hamilton Island Race Weeks.
In his time with the CYCA, Mark Robinson has made a significant contribution to the technical operations of sailing, notably with his knowledge of the IMS and IRC and his technical skills in upgrading computer results and the internet service to members.
The CYCA wishes him well in his decision to broaden his skills in the sport of sailing by moving into the international area of coaching.
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