ANNOUNCING THE 2021 CANADIAN SAILING YOUTH SQUAD

Sail Canada is pleased to announce the continuation of the Canadian Sailing Youth Squad. This team will be given access to select training opportunities with the Canadian Sailing Development Squad, the annual Canadian Sailing Team & Development Squad Camp, national coaching at select regattas and will work with the Sail Canada technical staff on developing their racing skills within their regional and local training environment. New for 2021 is an exclusive camp for CSYS athletes.

How do I qualify?

The 2021 Canadian Sailing Youth Squad will be selected from the 2021 Canadian Sailing Youth Squads Trials Camp which will be hosted in Canada, October, 2020. The venue and date will be selected by May 1, 2020.

Athletes can qualify to attend this camp through;

One of six Sail Canada Regional Talent ID camps hosted in the Central (OS and QC), Atlantic, and Pacific regions

The Sail Canada National Youth Olympic Training Seminar (YOTS), held before the Sail Canada National Youth Championships

other designated talent ID events as per below

The regionally designated and/or the regional provincial coaches at the Sail Canada Regional Talent ID Training Camps will nominate athletes to the Sail Canada High Performance Director and National Performance Coach who will then issue invitations to the camp.

Select invitations will also be given to athletes who have not qualified through the Sail Canada Regional YOTS, but perform in the top 5 positions at the Sail Canada Youth Championships, or are identified by the regional coaches at CORK International or Sail West

Spots Available

For 2020, the camp will be focused on Radials, laser transition for those youth graduated from U19 in 2021, 29ers, I 420’s and Kites. Other classes may be added in future years as dictated by talent levels in each class that are part of the Sail Canada Youth Championships. Athletes that are not in the identified classes for 2020 will also be able to qualify for the camp at this event

2020 Qualification Opportunities

Sail Canada Regional YOTC – Central (OS)

Single Handed Camp – 3 spots September 4-5 ABYC, Toronto

Double Handed Camp – 3 spots September 4-5 ABYC, Toronto

Sail Canada Regional YOTC – Central (QC)

Single Handed Camp – 3 spots May, 2020, date tbd Montreal

Double Handed Camp – 3 spots May 2020, date tbd Montreal

Sail Canada Regional YOTC – Pacific

Single Handed Camp – 3 boats July 11-14 San Francisco

Double Handed Camp – 3 boats March 16-19 San Diego, CA

Sail Canada Regional YOTC – Atlantic

Single Handed Camp – 3 boats date tbd Halifax, NS

Double Handed Camp – 3 boats date tbd Halifax, NS

Sail Canada National YOTS

singlehanded – 3 boats August 24-26 RSTLYC, Montreal

doublehanded – 3 spots August 24-26 RSTLYC, Montreal

Sail Canada Youth Championships

4 boats total (in all fleets) August 27-30 RSTLYC, Montreal.

CORK International

2 boats total (in all fleets) August 10-14 Kingston, Ont.

Sail West

2 boats total (in all fleets) August 12-16 Gimli, MB

Q & A

How do I apply for the Sail Canada Regional YOTS (Pacific, Central, Atlantic) and the Sail Canada National YOTS?

Commencing, May 15, 2020 applicants will be able to register online for these events. Priority will be given to athletes that live within the region for each regional camp.

How will the coaches select athletes for the Canadian Sailing Youth Squad Trials Camp and the Squad itself?

Once an athlete is nominated from one of the qualification events, the athlete(s) and their coaches will be given a Sail Canada Talent ID form that they will use to assess the sailors’ skills. The form will be submitted to the SC National Performance Coach & HP Director. In addition, each successful candidate from the Regional YOTS camps will be asked to submit a 5-minute video demonstrating specific sailing skills.

The 5 minute video should include

– leeward mark rounding in minimum 10 knots

– tack and gybe in minimum 10 knots

– 1 minute sailing upwind in minimum 10 knots

– 1 minute sailing downwind in minimum10 knots

Once this is completed athletes will be invited to the Canadian Sailing Youth Squad Trials Camp.

What is my commitment if I were invited to be part of the Canadian Sailing Youth Squad?

If you are selected from the Canadian Sailing Youth Squad Trials Camp to be part of the 2021 Canadian Sailing Youth Squad the expectation is as follows;

Attendance at the 2021 annual CST / CSDS training camp
1 – 2 weeks of training with the CST or CSDS in the relevant fleet
Attendance at one European event chosen by SC
Attendance at the CSYS camp (January 1-7, 2021)

Do I have to leave my existing team or training environment if I am selected to the Canadian Sailing Youth Squad?

No, the Youth Squad training is meant to augment identified sailors skill development and it is SC’s expectation that athletes go back to their daily training environments and pass on skills learned to their local or regional teams.

How much is this going to cost?

Sail Canada is investing close to $60,000 into this program. Having said that, this sum is not enough to cover all expenses. Participants can expect a small Trials Camp fee, a fee for the National YOTS and their expenses to get to the camps and competitions. Sail Canada will pay for the coach costs and accommodations for the athletes.

How does making the team relate to qualifying for the Sail Canada World Sailing Youth Worlds Team?

It doesn’t, they are separate teams; however, if an athlete qualifies for the Sail Canada World Sailing Youth Worlds Team but has not previously qualified for the Canadian Sailing Youth Squad (CSYS), he or she will automatically be named to the CSYS.

What happens if the class I am sailing is not currently part of Sail Canada Regional YOTS (Pacific, Central, Atlantic)?

Due to limited resources, we can only support a limited number of classes at the Sail Canada Regional YOTS in 2019. Athletes from classes other than the 29er and Radial, I 420, and kites will be able to qualify for the Canadian Sailing Youth Squad Trials Camp at the SC Youth Championships.

What will the Canadian Sailing Youth Squad Trials Camp consist of?

The CSYS Trials Camp will be an intense sailing camp where athletes will be objectively measured and by the High Performance Director and the National Performance Coach. This will also include fitness and mental skills assessment testing. Athletes should expect each day to start at 7:30 am and finish at approximately 8:00 pm each night.

Who do I contact for more information?

Sail Canada Regional YOTS – Atlantic

Single and Double handed – tbd, Sail Nova Scotia

Sail Canada Regional YOTS – Central, Ontario

Single and Double handed – Cam Lymburner

Sail Canada Regional YOTS – Central, Quebec

Single and Double handed – Natalie Matthon

Sail Canada Regional YOTS- West

Single and Doublehanded- Kevin Black

Sail Canada National YOTS

Single and Double handed – Katie Yeo katie@sailing.ca

Canadian Sailing Youth Squad Trials Camp