IMPORTANT ANNOUNCMENT FOR ALL YACHT CLUBS AND OFFICIALS Major State Government funding boost for Yachting Victoria’s “Go Sailing and boating” clubs program The Victorian State Government has announced significant new funding for yachting in Victoria, to be shared amongst member clubs. The funding, to be managed through Yachting Victoria’s “Go Sailing and boating”  program, is for the training and support of club officials including those conducting race management, club coaching and instructing. The one off funding has been provided out of surplus funds created by the Volvo Ocean Race Melbourne Stop Over. The Minister for Sport and Recreation Victoria, Justin Madden MLC said in announcing the grant last week in Melbourne “The incredible success of the Volvo Ocean Race Melbourne Stop Over provided a marvelous opportunity for Yachting Victoria to develop new programs to grow the sport at the grassroots level. Yacht clubs and their volunteers made the Stop Over a fantastic event and it’s fitting they share in the benefits. It is important local sporting clubs are equipped with the facilities and qualified trained people to meet the growing needs of the community. We’ve invested in the facilities that matter to local communities, like sports and recreational centres,” he added. This State Government funding means that yacht club volunteers will be able to obtain or upgrade their qualifications in Instructing, Coaching or Race Management at no cost to themselves. The program will be managed by Yachting Victoria and will roll out through 2007-2008.  It is open to all clubs and will recognise the special needs or regional Victoria and clubs with inclusion programs such as Sailability. Yachting Victoria’s CEO, Ross Kilborn is very enthusiastic about the announcement, “The State Government’s support is very exciting news for Victorian yachting and clubs. At the Club Conference earlier this year I outlined the current position of yachting in Victoria and the trends impacting it. I pointed out that the yachting community needed to make certain improvements and that this could be achieved through our joint program “Go Sailing and boating” I believe that the attending clubs represented by over 60 people were very supportive of this proposal. Government funding now means this program can be delivered,” Mr Kilborn concluded. The objective of this “Go Sailing & boating“ program is straightforward – to establish a stronger grassroots base for the future growth of our clubs and the sport through 1. Building on Victoria’s leadership in conducting sailing events by increasing our Race Officials capacity and capability even further.  This will happen in the current season and be linked to Sail Melbourne and Skandia Geelong Week, but be available to all clubs. 2. Improving the performance of Victorian sailors in national and international competition, and increasing member retention by increasing our Coaching capacity and programs at clubs and recognised classes. 3. Increasing participation in the sport by increasing our Instructor capacity – as training is such an important pathway into our sport.” The State Government funding is in two stages: Stage 1 – which will start immediately. Research Survey and Race Officer Training Stage 1 involves conducting a survey of current member clubs to assess  - The current levels of participation, activity and other industry metrics - The potential level of demand for the suggested program and the outcomes it may create after Stage 2  - The current club management frameworks and plans, including extent of adoption of Risk Management, Membership Protection and Inclusion policies. It also provides for the immediate training of Race Officials, as a proof of concept that this program can generate the proposed outcomes. In this instance it will immediately increase our capacity to deliver a very large program of events in season 2007-8 as part of both Sail Melbourne and Skandia Geelong week. Stage 2 – on successful completion of Stage 1 – Full roll out of the program including Coach and Instructor development and support of club development Stage 2 provides for a comprehensive training program for a large number of Coaches and Instructors as well as support for clubs to update and implement their own appropriate plans and policies. These policies include Membership Protection, Inclusion and Risk Management. It is envisaged stage 2 will commence in 2007 and be delivered through 2008. The Coaching development program will equip Victorian Clubs and recognised classes with the skills to further improve the achievements of Victorian sailors at the national and international level, and improve their members performance on the water. The Instructor development program will equip our clubs with increased Instructor capacity that will enable increased participation in programs like junior sailing, Tackers, Schools Teams Racing, Sailability, and general sailing and boating education for all sectors of the population. A full outline of this program appears on our Yachting Victoria website, under the Club Manual section as a webcast (with audio). Club officials and members are encouraged to view this webcast either individually or as a committee. We are also calling for nominations for the Race Officer training. We are forwarding a shorter Media release about this announcement and ask you please to post it on your club noticeboard and include mention of it in your next club newsletter or E-news to your members. If you would like someone from Yachting Victoria to explain this program to your committee, please contact Yachting Victoria. Yachting Victoria regards this is the most appropriate and best outcome yachting in Victoria could have achieved from the Volvo Ocean Race Melbourne Stop Over and your club is encouraged to get involved in the “Go Sailing and boating” program. It presents a great opportunity for so many volunteers to be recognised and rewarded, whilst enjoying their further participation in the future of yachting in Victoria.   More Info:         Ross Kilborn CEO Yachting Victoria              Ph 03 9597 0066 (press 8)  Email ross@yachtingvictoria.com.au  www.yachtingvictoria.com.au