Applications now open for the CYCA's Youth Sailing Academy Winter Squads

Must Match Race Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Sydney © Andrea Francolini

Since 1993, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's Youth Sailing Academy has excelled in developing youth sailors into world class athletes with graduates going on to represent Australia in the America's Cup, Olympic Games, Volvo Ocean Race and World Match Racing Tour.

In 2017, the CYCA Youth Sailing Academy had one of their most successful seasons on the water, continuing one of the longest club winning streaks in the sport by once again taking out the Club Marine NSW Youth Match Racing Championship, which was also backed up with a third consecutive Australian Youth Match Racing title, two international youth match racing championship regatta wins as well as being crowned Youth Match Racing World Champions.

Now, celebrating their 25th season, the CYCA Youth Sailing Academy have set an ambitious sailing calendar for 2018 and will host 12 events throughout the year, double their usual event season. As part of the 25th anniversary, the CYCA will host all of Australia's match racing national championships including the Women's, Opens, Schools & Youth Nationals throughout September and October, before the season finale in November once again with Australia's premier match racing event – the Musto International Grade 2, which in 2017, hosted 15 teams from Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Japan, The Netherlands, France and Untied States of America.

The focus for the CYCA Youth Sailing Academy now shifts back to winter training for 2018 with applications now open for the three winter training squads. New formatting and structures has been injected into each program bringing new life to each squad as they continue to produce world class sailors.

This year's Talented Sailor Search squad will run over six weeks throughout May and June, allowing sailors to develop their keelboat and fleet racing skills over each session.

The Development Match Racing (DMR) squad will allow sailors to set new goals and shape better understanding across both match racing and fleet racing disciplines. The new structure includes a longer segregated program incorporating both fleet and match racing components. Running from May through to July, the revamped program will incorporate elite coaching from CYCA staff led by Head Coach Jordan Reece and provide each sailor with equal opportunities to represent the CYCA at local, state and national fleet racing and match racing events across the winter period.

Finally the Advanced Squad targets sailors looking to represent the club and Australia at National and International events and will put more emphasis on athlete's commitment to achieving a high level of sailing ability in sailing knowledge. Conducted from May to August, the program will include coaching; provide greater racing opportunities for athletes by supporting specific events which are related to the Youth Sailing Academy.

More information and application forms for each squad can be found on the CYCA website under Youth Squads with application periods closing on Friday 20 April 2018.

Additional information can be found by contacting or visiting www.cyca.com.au.