The Australian Sailing Team hosted a 49erFX Experience Camp at Lake Macquarie last week, providing aspiring Olympians and sailors curious about the Olympic pathway an opportunity to experience high-performance sailing and understand what pursuing an Olympic campaign entails.
This four-day camp is part of Australian Sailing’s commitment to developing high-performance pathways and nurturing the next generation of Olympic sailing talent.
Eleven young female sailors aged 16 to 19 attended, bringing experience from classes such as 29ers, 13ft skiffs, Waszps, and wing foiling. For many, it was their first encounter with the 49erFX, where participants rotated partners and roles on the water to enhance their skills in the Olympic class.
On-water training was supplemented by land-based activities that introduced the broader demands of high-performance sport, including land-boat training, physical preparation with Australian Sailing Team Physiologist Lucy Scott, and a session on performing under pressure with NSW Institute of Sport Psychologist Gabi Shore.
The camp was supported by 49erFX National Coach Jim Colley OLY and Youth Pathways Head Coach Brady Lowe, with Australian Sailing Squad athletes Brooke Wilson and Evie Haseldine OLY joining for the initial two days. They interacted with participants, sailing together and delivering presentations on various aspects of an Olympic campaign.
Colley noted that early exposure to the Olympic pathway could help young sailors transition from youth sailing and understand what an Olympic campaign involves. He explained that the jump to an Olympic class can be significant, and many young sailors are unaware of the steps necessary to take that leap.
“The idea behind the camp was to give them some exposure to the FX program, not just sailing the boat, but how we train, how we learn, and the standards we set for ourselves. This will help them take valuable lessons back into their own sailing programs, while also providing a clearer picture of what they need to work towards for future campaigns in the FX,” Colley said.
Three days of favourable breeze allowed the sailors to maximise their time on the water and put their learning into practice. The feedback from participants was positive, highlighting their interactions and shared learning experiences. Colley emphasised the importance of continued investment in this area to ensure young sailors have opportunities to progress and achieve their aspirations.
By combining practical sailing experience with insights into physical preparation, sports psychology, and campaign planning, the Experience Camp offered participants a clearer understanding of the standards and pathways available in Olympic sailing, equipping them with valuable lessons for their current sailing programmes.
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About Australian Sailing
Australian Sailing is the governing body for the sport of Sailing in Australia. We are responsible for the administration, promotion and development of sailing. We are a member-based organisation that represent the interests and provides services and support to over 360 clubs across Australia as well as more than 160 accredited Discover Sailing Centres.
The Australian Sailing Team is the national representative team for Olympic-class sailing, bringing together Australia’s elite athletes and rising stars through a unified high-performance pathway within Australian Sailing.
Lisa Darmanin – Australian Sailing Team Communications & Brand Lead
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