Hi to all our Sailors and Parents,
Despite the mid winter conditions its great to be sailing again after lockdown and thankful our daily lives are not entangled the considerable uncertainties and restrictions other countries are experiencing. This season has been quite a blow-out with our season cut short, international regattas cancelled that prevented a number of our top sailors completing their goals not to mention ageing out. Our last committee meeting unanimously concluded NZIODA would be unable to support international competition for the rest of this season due to risk and complexities beyond its control.
But good news is also in the air. NZIODA has now engaged two very capable administrators, plans are underway to run a Special Training camp in September for our top ranked and upcoming sailors for 2021 season, and the Worser Bay Nationals will definitely be proceeding.
First welcome to our administrators. NZIODA are thrilled to have the services of Sarah Nicholl in Christchurch who has an education background and Veronica Aris in Auckland who ably organised travelling uniforms for the last two years. They will share the admin work which has become considerable and enable the committee to be proactive in continuing to work towards the associations vision of support and inclusiveness across the class. This move is also aimed at encouraging better year on year continuity for all sailors within the class. Here they introduce themselves.
Sarah Nicholl: I am delighted to be part of the NZIODA team continuing to make Optimist sailing an exciting and rewarding sport for the youth of New Zealand. As I was a keen optimist sailor myself, back when they were first introduced to New Zealand, I have a special fondness for the class. I hail from Charteris Bay where both my son and daughter now sail. Sailing has had a hugely positive impact on our family and I am very grateful for the character building opportunities that it provides. I look forward to working alongside Veronica to help streamline the administration for the organisation which should make this sport more accessible to our youth and families.
Veronica Aris:I am very excited about the opportunity to work alongside the NZIODA Committee & Sarah to drive forward established and implement new initiatives to ensure that the class is catering for all levels and abilities. I have seen first hand from my own daughter the positive benefits of sailing and the opportunities that have been opened up to her.
In September with support from the OWNZ trust, NZIODA will run Preparation Training Camp for Top 25 ranked sailors including replacing those that have aged out and preparing them for the coming season. The clinic will be a token cost event to the sailors and families with subsidies assisting sailors needing to travel to attend. Sailors will be aligned with prospective future team coaches with the intention of building skills and relationships early in their build up to being able to travel overseas again.
The clinic, to be held at the Takapuna Boating Club from Friday 11 September to Sunday 13 September, will be run by head coach Sam Mackay with support from Wade Tresadern, Susannah Pyatt and Kim Buchanan. Eligible sailors can be expected to be contacted over the next few weeks. Regretfully the committee as yet are unable to accomodate any plans for those sailors who would have made a Traveling Development Team.
This is likely to be my last newsletter as President as I step down. With The Frostbite Regatta in Tauranga (replacing AIMs), the Australians busting to get here for our Nationals and new energy in our fold, I feel the current moves presently place NZIODA in a great position to be more proactive with following and creating initiatives that will benefit our sailors and those yet to start.
On this note, again may I remind clubs and members to consider nominations at the coming AGM in Worser Bay particularly for President and Treasurer. These are respectively more leadership and advisory roles with a committee that now has the services of a great administration team.
Happy sailing
Kind Regards
David Kayrouz
President
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