Platu Youth Academy

Royal Akarana Yacht Club

Platu 25

Youth Sailing Academy

“The Royal Akarana Youth Sailing Academy has been designed to give young sailors the environment, tools and opportunities to develop sailing skills and professionalism to a standard that is competitive on the World scene”.

The Fleet

The Academy will train and race in a fleet of 10 purpose built Platu 25 one design keelboats.

The Platu 25 is a modern light displacement high performance yacht which was specifically designed by Farr yacht design as a racing yacht suitable for teaching sailing skills and racing skills to “new sailors”.

The yachts are fast and sporty with no interior fit out as it is intended for day racing only. The light displacement hull shape combines a long waterline, fine bow sections and powerful stern sections, all carefully balance to deliver exceptional performance. The combinations of wide, flaring topsides that increase the effective stability from crew weight and a highly refined keel geometry give the high stability essential for a well-rounded, light displacement design.

An efficient, no nonsense deck layout has been designed to make the yacht easy to sail for either the novice or regatta veteran. Complete with sail and rig controls, emphasis has been placed on the careful placement of gear.

Configuration of a double swept-spreader, fractional rig with short over-lapping headsail and large mainsail will allow for a high performance rig that is strong and reliable yet allows for effective adjustment of sails for varying wind conditions.

Criteria

Applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 21
Must provide a sailing C.V. and show at least 2 years of previous sailing experience with a yacht club. Each applicant will be interviewed and considered on a case by case basis.
Each sailor accepted into the Academy shall demonstrate a genuine commitment to the programme and show professionalism and punctuality.

Applications

Applications to the Academy close on the 15^th September 2011. An application form is available here or from the Akarana office. For further information on the Academy please contact academy@rayc.org.nz or phone Dorothee Lampe 09 524 9945.

Fees

· Course Fees per year $1,050.00 This includes Royal Akarana Yacht Club Youth membership

Course Schedule

The Academy will run over 2 Terms from September to April (Term 4-2011 and Term 1-2012). Each term consists of around 8 weeks with Training and Racing scheduled for every Sunday.

2011 Term Three (plus start of Term 4)

September 15^th Registration and Orientation

September 25^th Introduction to Keel Boats

Oct 2^nd Boat Handling and Drills

2011 Term Four

Oct 30^th – Nov. 20^th Boat Handling and Drills

Nov. 27^th – Dec. 4^th Introduction to Fleet Racing

2012 Term One

Feb 5^th – Feb. 19^th Introduction to Fleet Racing

Feb 26^th – March18^th Fleet Race Series One (4 weeks)

March 25^th – April 1^st Make up dates (if necessary)

A detailed course breakdown will be given to every successful candidate

Example of daily schedule

0900hrs Briefing at RAYC club rooms

0930hrs Rig Boats and depart dock

1030hrs Training / Racing begins

1230hrs Return to dock

1250hrs Debrief at RAYC club rooms

1300hrs Day ends

Competitions

Each year teams will be individually selected from the Academy to represent the Royal Akarana Yacht Club in various Regattas.

This includes:

The New Zealand Keel Boat Nationals

Crew Positions

There are 5 crew positions available on each boat. These positions will be selected by the coaching staff based on the experience of each candidate.

Helm
Mainsheet
Trim
Pit
Bow

Graduation and Prize Giving

A Prize Giving and Graduation Ceremony will be held at the end of the First Term at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club.

Prizes will be awarded for Male and Female sailor of the year as well as Fleet racing and Match racing. Sailors may at this stage choose to graduate from the Academy or stay on for another year in the Academy.

Graduates (minimum of 2 years in the academy)

Graduates from the Academy will have the ability to move into the international world of competitive sailing. The opportunities are vast, from an Olympic campaign, Volvo Ocean Race, the America’s Cup or the Match Race World Tour.

Sponsors