GOATs is a programme for sailors who wish to race competitively and to improve their skills over the autumn and winter. Many will compete in the Youth Nationals at Easter, which is a selection event for World, European and Irish Development (IDT) teams.
The programme requires commitment from both sailors and parents. Sailors are asked to commit to training over the winter period, sometimes in adverse weather conditions, attend every scheduled training session possible, arrive on time and motivated to participate. Parents are asked to ensure that they respond to attendance polls, to allow for coaches to plan accordingly, provide their sailor with the required equipment for their boat and ensure they attend sessions.
A shore duty rota will be issued and each family are asked to cover their assigned slot. If you are unavailable on that day, it is your responsibility to swap with another family and inform one of the organisers (Fiona Ryan, Sophie Crinion or Phil Lawton).
Mid-session arrivals/departures disrupts safety, focus and coaching on the water. We ask tjhat if possible to avoid this or in the event that your sailor needs an exemption please vet any adjustment with the coach in advance. Any sailor joining/departing the group on the water must be accompanied by a safety rib, coach or parent for handover. It’s important that this is arranged without disruption to coaching.
The coaching this year is being led by Johnny Ducan and supported by Peter McCann, Rian Geraghty O’Donnell and others. The first term of GOATs will mainly focus on boat handling, boat speed etc while more focus on racing and strategy/tactics will be placed in term 2. A lot of which will change depending on weather conditions week by week. Further, more indepth information will be provided by coaches.
The programme is split into 2 terms, from now until Christmas, and the second term from January to April. After Youth Nationals, the summer programme will kick in (pre-event clinics and support etc)
Each term is charged seperately, and there is the option to pay in 2 installments, however, sailors are expected to commit to the full term.
While all this information sounds very serious, the GOATs programme is so beneficial to sailors who engage in it. The more the sailor puts into their training, the more they get out of it. Although some days are tough and take encouragement to get out of bed to be down at the club on a cold winter’s morning, the sailors have a lot of fun, make really close friendships and have a super time both on and off the water. The tuition they receive from our top class coaches, the time on the water and the large fleet racing, will benefit them in any boat that they will sail in their future. The GOATs programme is the envy of many clubs around the country.
We look forward to welcoming your sailor on board and we are sure they are going to have a wonderful winter of sailing and fun.
