QLD Youth Sailing Development Camp and Championships a success

by Sarah Rice on 4 Oct 2011 Last week 59 of the best youth sailors in Queensland rolled into Yeppoon to fight for the title of QLD Youth Champion for their specific classes. The event attracted Optimists, Sabots, Open Bics, Lasers, 420’s 29ers and Bic Techno’s from as far south as Gold Coast and as far north as Cairns.

The Championships were preceded by 3 jam packed days in a training camp with some of the best coaches in QLD. It was a great opportunity for the athletes to learn new skills and to train in the same waters as the Championships.

Congratulations to Kyle O’Connell (sabot), Eva Lorenz (Optimist), Hayden Johnson (Laser 4.7), Daniel Smith (Laser Radial), Klaus Lorenz & Ollie Annear (420) and Tom Quirk (sailboard) who claimed the championship in their specified classes. The competition was particularly fierce in the Sabot and Optimist with the biggest fleet these Championships have ever seen. Paul Effeney, the Commodore of the Keppel Bay Sailing Club, acknowledged the enormous contribution of all the volunteers from the Club that worked so hard to ensure a successful and safe week of sailing.

Congratulations to Thomas Little, our lucky door winner. Thanks to North Sails Australia Tom went home with a $500 North Sails Voucher to purchase a new sail for his Optimist.

Next year the Keppel Bay Sailing Club, in conjunction with Yachting Queensland, is working towards an even bigger and better event. The 2012 camp and regatta will aim to be the centrepiece for youth sail training in the State and culminate in a three day regatta with substantial cash prizes.