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Minnow Association Newsletter - December 2021

The 2021/22 Sailing season is well under way - hope you’re all enjoing being back on the water after 18 months of disruption! In this newsletter we have information on 2022 membership renewals, notice of our AGM and a call for committe members, lots of information on upcoming regattas and on upcoming coaching and training events, plus information about buying and selling boats and parts, and a call-out for reps at each of the clubs in Victoria where the blue sail is on the water.

Photos from the start of season

2022 membership renewals

2022 memberships are now available - $25 / child or $40 for a family

Class membership is required for entry to state and national championship regattas, and class coaching events - separate event fees will apply

Notice of 2022 AGM

All members are advised that the 2022 Annual General Meeting of the Minnow Sailing Association (Victoria) Inc. will be held on Thursday 8th March at 7.30pm on Zoom (link will be circulate to registered members the week before)

Agenda:

1. Election of office bearers

2. Approve financial reports

3. Agree membership fees

4. Any other business

Call for committee members

As part of the AGM, Nominations will be called for the positions of President and eight General Committee Members. The selection of Treasurer, Vice President and Secretary from the general committee members will be made at the first subsequent Committee Meeting.

Our current committee only have 5 people and is all male, all white, and all except one from Blairgowrie - we need some more volunteers and we don’t really reflect the diversity of sailors in the Minnow class in terms of gender, race or location!

Committee membership is not a big commitment - one meeting every 2 months, plus a few actions in between. I’m sure there lots of talented parents out there - please give some time to support the sport that gives your children so much enjoyment.

To find out more, please contact our President Richard Backwell, or contact the Assocation - minnowsailing@gmail.com

Regattas

2022 state championships - Williamstown Sailing Club

Our 2022 Victoria state championship regatta will be hosted this year by Williasmtown Sailing Club - Sat 26th & Sun 27th February 2022

Keep an eye on the regatta webpage, where details will be published as they become available including Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, regatta entry and sailing registration

2022 national championships - Darwin Sailing Club

After a Covid-enforced hiatus, the 2022 national championship regatta will be hosted this year by Darwin Sailing Club in the Northern Territory - Sat 2nd to Fri 8th July

The Victoria class association will be organising a container to transport boats to Darwin and back, and co-ordinating accommodation - more details to follow

Notice of Race and entry details will be available “soon” (but this is Darwin time!) In the meantime, put the dates in the your calendar and get practising - many Minnow sailors and parent describe the last Darwin nationals as the best regatta they’ve ever been to, so you don’t want to miss out!

2023 national championships - Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron

After the Northern Territory, it’s Victoria’s turn next to run the national championships. Planning is already underway for the regatta to be hosted by Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, so make sure you save the dates: Sat 7th to Fri 13th January 2023

2023 state championships - expressions of interest

Minnow Sailing Association is seeing expressions of interest from Clubs to host our 2023 state championship regatta - Sat 25th & Sun 26th February 2023

If your Club is interested, please contact the Association (minnowsailing@gmail.com) or speak to our President Richard Backwell

Coaching and training events

Get Moving in a Minnow (January) course @ Williamstown Sailing Club

Get Moving in a Minnow provides an opportunity for junior sailors to further develop their confidence and sailing and racing skills in the Minnow junior class - its a great transition for kids moving on from Tackers, or a confidence builder for novice fleet sailors.

Wed 19th to Fri 21st Jan, 9am-4pm daily

Victorian Junior Sailing Carnival @ Morninington Yacht Club

The Victorian Junior Sailing Carnival is aimed at Tackers graduates and Green Fleet sailors - a day of fun activities, racing round pool toys, and competing in your first regatta.

For Green Fleet sailors, also includes entry to the Schnapper Point Regatta

As well as being a fun day, this is also an opportunity to showcase the Minnow class to new sailors looking to move out of Tackers Ozi-Optis, so it would be great to see as many Minnows there as possible to get the blue sail seen!

If you’re able to bring a Minnow along, please contact Alex Morton so we can co-ordinate as a call - tackers@williamstownsailingclub.org.au

Minnow Association coaching day @ Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron

Saturday 9th April - details TBC, likely to include coaching in the morning and particpation in Club racing in the afternoon (with a separate Novice course)

Get Moving in a Minnow (April) course @ Williamstown Sailing Club

Get Moving in a Minnow provides an opportunity for junior sailors to further develop their confidence and sailing and racing skills in the Minnow junior class - its a great transition for kids moving on from Tackers, or a confidence builder for novice fleet sailors.

Tue 19th to Thu 21st Jan, 9am-4pm daily - bookings open 1st January

WinterSail 2022 @ Albert Park Yacht Club

For families who don’t want to travel to Darwin for the nationals, WinterSail is a great youth coaching event run by Albert Park Yacht Club. There were 7 Minnows on the water last year - lets make Minnows the biggest fleet next year!

Dates for 2022 aren’t released yet - expected to be Fri 8th to Sun 10th July

Sailing club representatives

There are at least 10 sailing clubs round Victoria with active Minnow sailors, based on entries from the 2020 and 2021 state championship regattas, and another 6 clubs that entered boats in the previous 4 years. Are you willing to be a contact for your sailing club? Please get in contact with the association minnowsailing@gmail.com

Current Minnow representatives are:

• Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron - Richard Backwell

• Williamstown Sailing Club - Alex & Ruth Morton

• McCrae Yacht Cllub - Murray O’Brien

• Beaumaris Yacht Club - Peter Kemp

• Ballarat Yacht Club - Michelle Styles

• Rhyll Yacht Club - Wesley Moore

Other clubs where we’d like Minnow representatives are: Altona Yacht Club, Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club, Rye Yacht Club, Mount Martha Yacht Club, Portland Yacht Club, Albert Park Yacht Club