Row, row, row your boat

Time for you to line your team up to become one of the rowers of the new skiff!

You’ve all seen Valkyrie in both the Ballroom and the Quarterdeck over the last two months and the trials and tribulations of the last six months faded away as a special day arrived.

The St Ayles Skiff was launched at a special rowing day with Past Commodore and patron Colin Cowden officiating for the event. We had the company of a mixed fleet of skiffs from Augusta and Denmark yacht Clubs with Royal Freshwater Bay YC joining us on a Australia 5 km row before enjoying a barbecue lunch under the trees.

The Bosuns Club are now working on the second skiff and the hull should ready to turn by the time you read this. We are now looking for people to take out these skiffs and we need 5 people for each skiff. The team is comprised of 4 rowers and a Cox who will be responsible for the rest of the crew and the skiff. The rowing teams will be given familiarization sessions and the coxes will be selected on their knowledge of the river and prior experience as either as an oars person or a coxswain. The Cox will be the responsible person in charge of the boat. Information will be available to all participants. A person will be appointed presently to act as the co-ordinator for the St Ayles skiffs.

While we are working on the next skiff, we are also looking at the jetty two fingers with the last of the chafers requiring repainting and more kerbing and decking timbers to be prepared. We mustn’t forget the other tasks that the bosuns Club team are doing with refuelling the fleet of Club boats every Friday and maintenance on jetties four through to seven where we can help the Club bosuns by painting and preparation of decking and the simple tasks of checking the decking for damage and loose screws.

The bosuns Club has a big task coming up this winter with the need to take up the paving in the centreboard Club house prior to the Windsurfer Worlds event coming up this summer. Volunteers will be needed to help, please get in touch with Bob Harrap at the Club most Wednesdays after sailing.

Rick Steuart For the Bosuns Club

The South of Perth Yacht Club's Sailing Academy was established in 1996 to provide learn to sail, Club training and coaching, and performance development programs for members of all ages. The Head Coach drives these programs with the support of the OnWater Group and Training & Development Committee.

Although the term "Academy" might imply a focus on high-performance sailing, it actually represents a dedicated Training Section of the Club that prioritizes the sailing development of its members, recruits and retains new participants, and offers growth opportunities for sailors at all levels. This objective remains aligned with the Club's current strategic plan.

Some Clubs call similar sections their “Training Centre” and incorporate Australian Sailing Discover Sailing Courses, training and other services including some highperformance sections in a similar way.

We take the responsibility of sharing the love of sailing in its various facets very seriously. Providing sporting and challenging opportunities is a critical component of achieving a well-balanced life. Sailing serves as an incredible sport allowing opportunities to develop valuable life skills, grow, and adapt as responsible citizens.

Many of the Club's sailors eventually become coaches, embarking on their first job and giving back to the community as role models for the next generation. The coaching team remain focused on making the sailors the best they can be, fostering team building, resilience, determination, a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, and providing ample opportunities for personal growth.

Reflecting on my four years at the Club, I can see how each year presented unique challenges and opportunities for growth. During my initial year, I focused on adapting to the existing setup and familiarizing myself with the Club operations, taking into account the needs and perspectives of various stakeholders. The subsequent two years were heavily impacted by the Covid pandemic, which necessitated numerous adjustments to our activities. Despite the obstacles, we persevered and managed to navigate through the challenges.

However, this year stands out as a solid one for us. We were fortunate to host and participate in two National and one World Championships, which provided exciting events for our members to participate in. Alongside the events, we continued to offer our regular courses and training commitments, ensuring a well-rounded service to members and participants.

Throughout the last four years, SoPYC has experienced significant growth, particularly in our junior section. It's worth mentioning the incredible support we receive from the parents, who actively contribute to our Club community and play a vital role in the development and success of the programs. (see graph opposite)

Looking ahead, we anticipate even greater growth and progress as the cumulative impact of our programs continues to take shape.

We have also successfully managed the financial aspects of the Academy by consistently operating below budget, leading to significant savings for the Club and bolstered overall membership numbers and increased the Club's income through our various initiatives. This progress, coupled with the support from our members and stakeholders, fills me with genuine excitement for the future of SoPYC. We are well on our way to realizing our vision of becoming a leading Yacht Club in Australia. If you are interested in learning more or getting involved, please feel free to reach out to me, Denis Jones, at headcoach@sopyc.com.au. Alternatively, you can contact our excellent training coordinator, Caitlin Elks, at training@sopyc.com.au.