Please select your home edition
Edition
Sunstorm Marine - Cup Holders - RIB

The Future is Now – Performance Pathways preparing champions

by Australian Sailing 7 Jul 2022 15:28 BST
Sophie Jackson & Angus Higgins (470 Mixed) competing at Semaine Olympique Française in Hyeres © Beau Outteridge

The Australian Sailing (AS) Performance Pathway represents the progression from competitive club sailing to the Australian Sailing Team for Olympic and Olympic pathway classes.

A crucial step of the Performance Pathway is the Australian Sailing Futures Program, which provides opportunities for emerging athletes to experience what it means and what it takes to be a high-performance athlete.

The Futures Program brings together emerging athletes and key coaches from across Australia for high quality training, racing and development opportunities, and is a crucial link between State Performance Programs and the Australian Sailing Squad.

48 up-and-coming athletes across the Olympic classes currently make up the ASF roster, and with international borders opening back up, many are getting their first taste of international competition.

Currently competing in the Mixed 470 class, Alex Higgins is one such athlete, having recently finished 30th at the Kiel Week regatta with Skipper Sophie Jackson.

"Futures has been great for me, as after sailing in the 420 class I felt a little lost with where to go in the sport and ended up not sailing very much at all for a few years," Higgins said.

"With the futures program I have been able to re-engage with sailing and my love of the sport, and found myself back on track to achieve my sailing goal of being a world champion and competing at the Olympics, things that I'd all but given up on."

Performance Pathways link in with Australian Sailing's High Performance Strategy, which is focusing on the retention of developing sailors in the sport for longer through best practice development opportunities to support long term development and success in the sport. These include:

  • Promoting a squad approach as the cultural norm
  • Ensuring access to bigger fleets and developing 'brilliant racers' with enhanced regatta coaching solutions and a more progressive approach to competition exposure, particularly in Europe
  • Being more deliberate in the use of youth events to support the development of athletes and coaches
National Performance Pathway Manager for Australian Sailing, Ken Lynch says that the ASF program was put in place to support top level state athletes bridge up into senior international level competitions, and that the results and feedback suggest we are on the right track.

"The performances we've observed by ASF sailors over recent months suggests that we are on the right track with the level and type of support we have put in place," says Lynch.

"Transitioning to the top tier of world sailing takes sustained commitment and time. This crop of ASF sailors is progressing well and have demonstrated the type of performances that suggest they are tracking well."

Furthermore, Lynch states that the alignment of certain factors has contributed largely to the success of the program.

"Of particular value to date has been the integration of coaches and programs from state through to the Australian Sailing Team level," says Lynch.

"We look forward to the continued evolution of this program and seeing further progression of athletes involved in performance pathway."

More information on the ASF program here.

Related Articles

AST and B&G extend high-performing partnership
Continuing a collaboration that has been critical to the success of the team AST has announced the renewal of its long-term partnership with B&G, the world's leading sailing navigation and instrument specialists, continuing a collaboration that has been critical to the success of the team over the past eight years. Posted on 2 Jul
Australian Sailing welcomes new CEO
Malcolm Page OAM brings a wealth of experience to the role Australian Sailing is pleased to announce the appointment of respected sports administrator and dual Olympic gold medallist Malcolm Page OAM OLY as its new Chief Executive Officer. Posted on 1 Jul
Bronze breakthrough for Liddell and Brown
Nacra 17 duo claim their first international podium at Kieler Woche Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown have claimed their first international podium in the Nacra 17 class, securing bronze at Kieler Woche, the third Sailing Grand Slam event of the season. Posted on 30 Jun
Aussies Break into Top 10 at Kieler Woche
Put to the test from light air to heavy breeze The first half of Kieler Woche has wrapped up in Germany, with Australian sailors putting themselves to the test in five Olympic classes. Kiel delivered a complete spectrum of conditions for athletes to sharpen their racing skills. Posted on 26 Jun
Vale Hugh Treharne OAM
The Australian sailing community is mourning the passing of one of its greatest contributors The Australian sailing community is mourning the passing of one of its greatest contributors, Hugh Treharne OAM, who died peacefully surrounded by his loving family in Sydney last night. Posted on 25 Jun
Australian Sailors ready to tackle Kiel Week
The third event within the five event Sailing Grand Slam Australia's Olympic class sailors are set to tackle Kiel Week, the third event within the five event Sailing Grand Slam, held in the north of Germany. Posted on 21 Jun
Zhik and Australian Sailing renew partnership
For a fourth Olympic cycle Zhik and Australian Sailing are proud to celebrate over a decade of partnership, one built on innovation, elite performance and podium success. Since 2013, the collaboration has helped deliver four Olympic gold medals and four silver medals. Posted on 20 Jun
Top 10 finishes for Aussie crews in Europeans
Australia's 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 sailors have wrapped up a demanding week in Greece Australia's 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 sailors have wrapped up a demanding European Championships in Thessaloniki, Greece, with light winds, lengthy delays, and multiple general recalls pushing teams to their limits throughout the week. Posted on 9 Jun
Young Aussie squad ready to shine at Europeans
Australia's fast boat sailors are set for the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans in Greece Australia's fast boat sailors are set to take on the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships this week in Thessaloniki, Greece. With up to 18 races scheduled over the next six days, it's set to be a high-intensity regatta. Posted on 2 Jun
Event updates dominate this week's industry news
A summary of news relevant to businesses across Oceania The 36th annual Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) has once again cemented its status as the Southern Hemisphere's premier marine event, drawing an impressive 45,865 visitors over four spectacular days from 22-25 May. Posted on 29 May