​Identified Athlete Program

90 percent of Olympic medallists have finished in the top 10 percent at a world youth or class world championships.

The Identified Athlete Program (IAP) is aimed at our NextGen athletes who Sail Canada believes can be future performers. The program is set up to provide a World Class training environment for Canadian Development Squad athletes, athletes chosen for the Identified Athlete Program as well as other targeted athletes chosen by the national Coach team. 

The IAP targets age group worlds in classes identified as performance pathways into the supported Olympic Classes. Supporting sailors with a Sail Canada appointed coach and domestic training camp and event builds sailors’ confidence and sets them up for success at the targeted event.

Sailors are selected to be part of the IAP through an application process each year. Sailors will be selected by the Sail Canada High Performance Director (HPD) with input from the coach technical team. Criteria for selection include but are not limited to the following: Canadian Sailing Youth Squad status, Past performance, Yearly Training Plan, coach recommendation, developmental pathway, commitment to attend the pre worlds training camp, and age. 

2024 ILCA 6 & 7 Coaching Team
The 2024 athletes will be coached by Chris Watters (NTC East Single handed coach) and Kyle Martin (NTC West Single handed coach), with Ken Dool (Sail Canada Chief Technical Officer) providing guidance and support to the team.

2024 ILCA 49er & 49er FX Coaching Team
The 2024 athletes will be coached by Krzysztof Kierkowski (Sail Canada Podium Coach), Erik van der Pol (NTC West double handed coach), and Stephen Waldie (NTC East double handed coach), with Ken Dool (Sail Canada Chief Technical Officer) providing guidance and support to the team.

*This project is funded [in part] by the Government of Canada