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Hey! What’s happening? Committee work and news of the year ahead! A Newsletter!!
While many of you have been getting in as much winter training and event experience as you can over the long dark winter months your committee have been getting ready for next year. Some news: Nothing ever stays the same and each year the IODAI Committee have to consider how the previous year went and decide how it can best be improved upon for the next. Sometimes it looks like we have just got it all sorted and then another problem arises. We would dearly love to get it all absolutely perfect and please everyone all the time but although we strive for perfection each year we are more and more convinced that it must remain a mythical objective. Although full details will be announced as the year progresses here are some snippets to keep you informed of what is happening and what you can expect in 2009: New Committee appointments Jenny Magowan has taken on the role of Child Protection Officer and will be looking after all matters regarding the well-being of our sailors when taking part in IODAI events. David Delamer has been appointed as IODAI Safety Officer and will be developing an on-the-water safety policy based on principles laid down by the various governing bodies but yet specific to Oppie sailing. It is hoped that organising clubs will be given clear guidelines as to Safety and Rescue requirements for IODAI events. Conor Phelan has taken on the role of organising Schull and you will be able to read more details of what he has organised on this website. I understand there are now well over 100 sailors booked. I do hope you have your booking form in and will not be disappointed. Michael McCann has “taken on” the unenviable task of securing independent on-the-water jurors for all this year’s IODAI events in particular the trials. Under 12’s Squad - UK Nationals 2009 Following the success of last year’s Under 12's attendance at the UK Nationals, IODAI have decided to announce that all Under 12’s attending the trials in 2009 will be invited to join the Squad; avail of the training; and attend the UK Nationals in Largs, Scotland in August. Although generally a parent driven campaign, Mick Ruigrok will again coordinate IODAI support and logistics for the Squad. IODAI Rankings 2009 In 2008 a change was made to the IODAI rankings system whereby events were loaded dependant on the number of entrants etc. As reported previously on this website, the mathematics involved proved quite complicated and difficult for the competitors to understand. The new system made little difference to the overall picture and threw up more problems than it was designed to resolve. For 2009, IODAI have decided to revert to the previous system whereby a sailor’s two best Regional events plus the Nationals will count towards ranking - the Nationals not being discardable. Braassemermeer Very soon Braassemermeer invitations will go out to the top 20 Senior and top 10 Junior sailors to attend Braassemermeer. This year IODAI also invited sailors who thought they could cope with the rigours of the event to apply for a place on the Irish representative Squad. A number of sailors have so applied and are currently being considered should there be available places. Trials Review At the end of last season “Trials Review Team” was set up to review the trials process and make recommendations to IODAI for the future conduct of the trials. This team consisted of both IODAI committee members and non-committee members. This was a lengthy process which resulted in the production of a 20 page report which explored all aspects of the trials process including among other things; timing of the trials; race scheduling; race management; and commitment to a training schedule from team qualifiers after the trials. The recommendations, which were accepted by the IODAI committe in their entirety, can be read here: Trials Review Team Recommendations
Teams for 2009 Recent decisions taken by the IODAI Committee impose new rules for 2009. In consultation with the ISA it has been decided NOT to send a team to the World Championships in Brazil in 2009. There were numerous reasons for this but mainly based on cost; distance, logistics; and the fact that many sailors return from such tough championships with unfulfilled ambitions which can be considered to have a detrimental effect on their future sailing career. Among other factors, the following was taken into consideration: · Consultation with the ISA · The views of past and present coaches · Experiences of parents who have attended similarly distant events in the past. · The detrimental effect that disappointing results can have on our sailors · That only a small number of sailors are effected · By sending our top 7 sailors to the Europeans we can expect a more beneficial experience · The opportunity, created by the absence of a World’s Team, to send more sailors to another International event in addition to the Europeans (17 sailors in all will now represent Ireland at International event as opposed to the previous 12 - there will no longer be reserves) The committee’s decision on this matter was unanimous. So, to clarify: For 2009, the top seventeen sailors will be selected from the trials to represent Ireland. All will receive green life jackets and all will attend an international regatta. The following criteria will apply: · The top 7 sailors (subject to the gender rule) will represent Ireland at the European Championships. · The remaining 10 sailors will attend another top International Regatta (the actual event has yet to be decided but it will be a high profile International event - probably now The French Open Championships). · IODAI is aware that some sailors may still wish to attend the World Championships. In the event of any of the top 5 sailors wishing to travel to the Worlds, IODAI will (as required by the competition rules) enter them as Ireland representatives. · In the event of any (or indeed all five) of the top sailors attending the Worlds, The European Team will be adjusted accordingly (subject to the gender rule) and the number attending the International regatta will similarly adjusted. It must be stressed that this will only apply to the top five. If any of them decide not to go, the place or places will not be offered down to sailors outside the top five. · Therefore the two extreme scenarios are: · That we have 7 sailors at the Europeans and 10 sailors at an International regatta, or, · That we have 5 sailors at the Worlds; 7 at the Europeans and 5 at an International regatta. Class Measurers You will be aware that in the lead up to the Nationals last year, there was a shortage of qualified measurers. This has now been addressed and you can access a list of measurers by consulting our information pages. And finally….. The information pages on this website have recently been updated. They are split into two categories: One for people interested in joining the Oppie Class and a second for new parents and sailors. Have a look and if there is an unanswered question please send it to editor@iodai.com I will endeavour to answer your question and include it in the information pages for others. And finally, finally… I hope you have enjoyed this little newsletter style bulletin. It is not designed to give you all the information you need or answer all your questions but to simply give you a “heads-up” as to what your committee is doing and what to expect in the season ahead. A happy and successful new season to all our sailors (and parents): The webmaster. |
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