FROM THE HELM

SAILING HARD: Trinidad and Tobago's Andrew Lewis powers through 25-30 knot winds in a Laser,
at the Inaugural ENP Regatta.
 

BY EVENT DIRECTOR JOHN LONGLEY

Welcome to the December 2009 edition of The Dream Begins in Perth. Last month I travelled to Busan, Korea for the ISAF Annual Conference.

While there, I had many meetings to discuss all aspects of the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships. I had a long discussion with Alistair Fox, of ISAF, about how the Observer Programme should progress, met with the Chief Executive Officers of each of the 10 Olympic class associations and discussed mark laying, measurement and tracking matters.

The second Emerging Nations Programme (ENP) Session has now wound up after three weeks of intensive training, under the guidance of ENP Head Coaches Belinda Stowell (2000 Sydney Olympic Games Gold Medallist -470s) and Arthur Brett (2008 Beijing Olympic Games Coach). The coaches have worked tirelessly to instill into the 11 athletes, who come from 10 different nations, the dedication, commitment and knowledge required to make it to the top. These young sailors have their sights set on the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships and potentially could qualify their nation for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The athletes competed against Perth's best at the Inaugural Emerging Nations Programme Regatta on "Centre Course", Bathers Bay in Fremantle, for the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships, on their last weekend here. Their skills had improved immensley and their coaches were impressed with their increased confidence in the strong sea breeze. The regatta also provided Perth 2011 and training race officials with on-water experience and highlighted areas that we need to work on to reach a world standard that we are proud of.

The sailors who attended the second session completed intensive gym workouts and on-water training most days, with time off to enjoy - highlights of The Australia Cup held on the Swan River, a cricket match WA vs NSW as guests of the Retravision Warriors, twilight sailing on Foundation 36 yachts at Royal Perth Yacht Club and a visit to Caversham Wildlife Park. Have a look at the website - www.perth2011.com - to learn more about the ENP and to read articles about the training session.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Perth 2011 and remember that the Dream Begins in Perth! Best Wishes, John Longley AM Perth 2011 Event Director

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From the Engine Room

DIRECTOR COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS DARREN BEAZLEY REPORTS

I have just returned from Malaysia for the World Match Racing Tour of 2009 - The Monsoon Cup. Now in its fifth year, The Monsoon Cup epitomises what international sailing is about. It is a celebration of sport involving the community, government at all levels, the media, commercial backers and sponsors and of course, athletes with a burning desire to be the best that they can be. To say that I was impressed during my time there was an understatement.

The management of this world class event was meticulous, with nothing left to chance. From early morning briefings each day, which involved every department in this event, through to the skippers' media conference at the end of the day - communication was concise, regular and constant. Everyone was aware of what they should be doing and by when and that includes the fans who received a daily four-page newsletter summing up the previous day’s results and highlighting the action for the day ahead. The commitment and obvious pleasure that the teams of staff involved exude, making the long days and pressure to perform something to relish. From my observations, the staff managing The Monsoon Cup consider their involvement a privilege and are committed to making the end to the World Match Racing Tour what it should be…the climax of the year.

While there, I was privileged to be offered a "hot seat" on Monsoon Cup Race Adviser and competitor (WA 2011 Board Member) Peter Gilmour’s yacht (pictured above left) for the first of the quarter final matches. Standing at the back of the yacht, I can assure you that the adrenaline was pumping as we rounded the top mark for the first time, with fellow West Australian Torvar Mirsky managing to beat us around with a skillful display of tactical sailing belying his young years. However, over the next two legs, it was the experience of the Yanmar Racing Team under the careful guidance of the master himself Peter Gilmour that won the first in the best of five series. I can quite honestly say that I have never experienced anything quite like it and found myself honoured to see the skill and tenacity of this most difficult of sporting pursuits from such a privleged vantage point. If we are able to communicate this exhilaration to the fans of Perth 2011, we will have achieved something special indeed. For more on The Monsoon Cup, please visit www.monsooncup.com.my

On other matters, the exciting limited Membership packages - The John Bertrand Club, the Gold Medal Club and the Crew Club - are all available and would make an excellent Christmas present. Please see the advertisement below for more details. We also recently joined forces with DB Schenker sportsevents. They are the worldwide industry leaders, experienced in providing the logistics for huge sports events, including the Olympic Games and more specifically sailing events, including the Volvo Ocean Race and Sail Melbourne. Their expertise and support are crucial in ensuring that all the boats and sailing equipment arrive in Perth on time and in excellent condition. Please see the article in this enewsletter.

Thank you for continuing to support the World Championships. Best Wishes, Darren Beazley     Perth 2011 Director Commercial Operations

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WAIS Supports Inaugural ENP Regatta

POWERING THROUGH: The strong sea breeze off Fremantle that led to the abandonment of racing last Sunday afternoon for safety reasons ,did not affect the confidence of Moldovan Laser sailor Alex Denisiuc (pictured above).

 

Olympic class sailors Serbian Dany Stanisic (Laser) and Colombian Nicolas Lozano (RS:X) are today a step closer to reaching the Olympics, after winning their events at the Inaugural Perth 2011 Emerging Nations Programme (ENP) Regatta on the weekend of 5-6th December, 2009. Stanisic and Lozano secured wins in Fremantle, ahead of some of Perth’s best.

With Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) sailors competing, WAIS Executive Director Steve Lawrence said: "It's great to see WAIS sailors getting international competition in their own backyard through Perth 2011's Emerging Nations Programme. WAIS is happy to support initiatives that help sailing in WA keep developing champion athletes like (Olympic Gold Medallists) Belinda Stowell, Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson."

Despite Sunday's (December 6) racing being abandoned due to strong winds and results from Saturday (December 5) being taken as final, competitors’ spirits were not dampened, said Perth 2011 Event Director John Longley.

“The winds were howling at 25 to 30 knots and at one stage we had more boats (Lasers) upturned than the right way up. For safety reasons the race was abandoned but the athletes were all having a great time,” Mr Longley explained.

Apart from providing the ENP athletes with experience, the regatta was also held to test the courses for the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships.

“It was good for Perth 2011 to test the courses and discover how best to operate the racing, two years out from the main Event.”

ENP Head Coach Arthur Brett was delighted with the ENP participants' increased confidence. For these athletes, who are aiming for Perth 2011 and potentially to qualify their nation for the 2012 London Olympic Games, the Dream Begins in Perth!

For full ENP regatta results please visit - www.perth2011.com - and click on the "Full Results" button listed on the home page, underneath Emerging Nations Programme Regatta.

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DB Schenker to Move 1,000 Boats to Perth

MOVING FORWARD: Perth 2011 Sales Manager Peter Bowman recently met with DB Schenker sportsevents Manager (Australia) Sabine Schlosser (left) and Freight Forwarding Manager sportsevents Lynnette Fisher in Perth and all are looking forward to working together to bring the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships to Perth with ease.

 

Nearly 1,000 boats and related equipment need to be transported from all corners of the globe to arrive safely and on time for the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships! This is a phenomenal task - particularly as Perth is one of the most isolated cities in the world - so Perth 2011 has joined teams with logistics industry leaders DB Schenker, to bring this to fruition.

In December 2011, 4,000 official personnel and 1,400 international competitors will fly to Perth and every one of them will require that their boats and related sailing equipment arrive safely and on time, in Perth. The equipment will be coming from America, Europe, Africa, Asia and beyond and it must all arrive in one piece before the start of the Sailing World Championships on 3 December, 2011. To ensure that this massive task is undertaken and completed with minimum complications, Perth 2011 has joined forces with “the best in the business” – DB Schenker sportsevents.

Perth 2011 Director Commercial Operations Darren Beazley today announced the important partnership between DB Schenker and Perth 2011 and is delighted to have such a strong team on board.

"Moving yachts and equipment around the international yacht racing circuit is a major logistical and financial undertaking for all top level competitors. Just to understand shipping schedules and the various customs and quarantine requirements of countries on the world sailing circuit can become a real effort for athletes and managers to facilitate," Mr Beazley said.

"To ease the load and streamline the process, Perth 2011 has appointed the international shipping and logistics specialist DB Schenker whose expertise, knowledge and global resources are invaluable to Perth 2011."

DB Schenker sportsevents are well equipped to handle this massive undertaking, having worked closely for many years with the Olympics and big sailing events such as the Volvo Ocean Race and Sail Melbourne. Perth 2011 is delighted to have DB Schenker sportsevents on board as the international freight specialist for the World Championships. Contact may be made with the team at DB Schenker sportsevents by email sabine.schlosser@dbschenker.com or by calling Lynette Fisher at the Perth office on +61 (0) 8 63102878.

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Choosing Right Boat Takes Time

BOATS AHEAD: Emerging Nations Programme Head Coach Arthur Brett leans out of one of the two Perth 2011 coaches' RHIBs to speak with Laser Radial sailor Anna Aile, of Latvia, who attended the first and second ENP Intensive Training Sessions in Perth.

 

The process of evaluating the most appropriate Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) to be used on the water by Perth 2011 race officials, measurement teams, marshals and umpires has to date been exhaustive. Currently four RHIBs are being assessed in the 5.8-6.0m range and a further six in the 5.0m range. The size of this purchase, 21 boats in total, has seen keen competition from the tendering companies. Sea trials and thorough inspections have now been completed, with the successful tenderer or tenderers expected to be notified later this month.

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PERTH 2011 COMPETITORS AND EQUIPMENT

At Perth 2011, 1420 athletes will be vying for the 380 places that are available at the 2012 London Olympic Games Sailing Competition. Seventy five per cent of nations for London will be decided at Perth 2011. Final numbers in tables below are yet to be confirmed by ISAF.

As far as entries are concerned, every MNA has the right for one entry per event. If that does not fill the quota, then they can have up to five entries, with entries being allocated on a system based on results at the Sailing World Cup in 2011 or the 2010 World Championships. As for Women’s Match Racing, there will be only 32 entries unless there were more countries who wanted to send a team. If that happens, we need to accept that number ie. that number.

Proposed Numbers for 2012 London Olympic Games Sailing Competition

To be confirmed by ISAF

Proposed Numbers for Perth 2011

To be confirmed by ISAF

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Race Officer Training Continues

The first two race officer training courses have now been held - one at Hillarys Yacht Club and the second at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club. Late last month, Event Director John Longley met with officers at South of Perth Yacht Club to further discuss their proposed role in Perth 2011. Other Clubs were also invited to attend. The Inaugural Perth 2011 Emerging Nations Programme Regatta held on the weekend of 5-6th December 2009, was a good opportunity for Perth 2011 not only to test "Centre Course" and the other courses for the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships two years out from the Event, but also provided on-water, real-time training for race officials and volunteers.

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Sponsor Offer of the Month

Perth 2011 offers hot deals on travel within the next 28 days….

Through its partnering relationship with The AOT Group (the Official Accommodation provider for Perth 2011) you can now access a host of travel bargains at the last minute, through the Perth 2011 website. Travel destinations include all major Australian capitals, many unique regional areas, and overseas locations that include Bali, Fiji, New York, Hong Kong, Phuket, London, New Zealand, Hawaii, Vietnam and Singapore.

So if a great travel break is your desire in the next 28 days then the Perth 2011 website is well worth a look. You can begin your journey at www.perth2011.com, then visit the Accommodation section, and click on the “Travel in the Next 28 Days” icon.

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Explore The Rugged Beauty of South West

TRANQUILLITY: The turquoise waters off the coast of Albany, in Western's Australia's picturesque South West.

Prepare to be blown away by a rugged granite coastline, green seas, deep beautiful forests, towering trees, and the astounding formation of the land in the state's South West.

Albany is the heart of this southernmost region of Western Australia. With a dramatic convict history, the town has a wild beauty that will tug at your heartstrings. Step back in time and explore convict jails, old taverns, whaling ships and settlers’ cottages. Denmark is an idyllic place for a relaxing getaway, as is Walpole, surrounded by national parks and state forests. The tranquil rivers offer world-class fishing, canoeing, white-water rafting, bushwalking, and sailing.

For more information visit westernaustralia.com

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