St Johns Rotary Scholarship
The Canadian Olympic Regatta, Kingston Canada
2010 Recipient Announced
Yachting New Zealand is pleased to announce this year’s recipient of the St John’s Rotary Trust Scholarship. Nic Croft of Manly Sailing Club will travel to compete at CORK International Regatta in Kingston Canada.
‘The standard of applicant for 2010 was exceptional,’ comments Yachting New Zealand’s Youth Head Coach, Ian Neely.
Croft is a Laser Radial sailor who hopes to gain race experience in a large international fleet and expand his skills in starting, tactics and mark rounding in a big fleet.
‘My passion for Laser sailing started three years ago first with a 4.7 rig moving up to a Laser Radial once heavy enough,’ explains Nic Croft in his application to Yachting New Zealand.
‘For the past two seasons I am fortunate to have been a member of the Yachting New Zealand Youth Squad and really enjoyed the input and coaching received. I am particularly pleased with the gains I have made in technique, speed, fitness and I am keen to test these skills overseas.’
The regatta, which is focussed on youth development runs from August 16th to 19th.
Background Information...
The St Johns Rotary Trust each year supports a young New Zealand youth sailor to attend CORK (Canadian Olympic Regatta, Kingston). The Regatta is held in August each year, and sailors compete in both a youth and open regatta. These regattas are to be held from the 15th August 2010; further information including NOR is available on the regatta website. http://www.cork.org
CORK (Canadian Olympic Regatta, Kingston) has been the focus of the Scholarship to date. The Regatta is held in August each year, and sailors compete in both a youth and open regatta. Since 1996, over twelve New Zealand sailors have benefited from the exposure to the intensive international competition in the Youth and Open Classes that CORK provides. As a result of the CORK involvement a close liaison has been established with Rotarian families in Kingston who provide accommodation, encouragement and oversight to the young sailors that travel by themselves to Canada each year.
Past Recipients...
2010 Nic Croft (Laser Radial)
2009 George Lane (Laser Radial)
2008 Jason Saunders (Laser)
2007 Matt Steven (Laser)
2006 Josh Junior (Laser)
2005 Matt Coutts (Laser)
2004 Aaron Hume-Merry (Laser)
2003 Jane Macky (Laser Radial)
2002 Jo Aleh (Laser Radial)
2001 New Zealand Youth Team (Laser, Radial, 420, Mistral, Hobie)
2000 Chris Kitchen (Laser)
1999 James Wells (Board)
1998 Alistair Gair (Laser)
1997 Elliot Cree (Board)
1996 Jayson Herbert (Laser)
The goals of the scholarship are...
- To provide sailors with the opportunity to travel to an international regatta and gain experience from competing outside New Zealand
- To provide the opportunity for potential Youth Team sailors to perform internationally
- To give support in the way of international travel and accommodation with a host family at the event
The Selection Process...
A panel will meet once a year to consider applications, using the following guidelines as the basis for their selection:
- Under 18 on the 31st December in the year the scholarship is given out (i.e. eligible for the Youth Team in the following year)
- Eligible for selection into the NZ Youth Sailing Team to represent NZ at the ISAF Youth Worlds in future years.
- Current Youth Team Members are ineligible for selection.
- Potential to perform at key international events in the future.
- Level of yachting ability and likely performance at international level such that a competitor will bring credit to him/herself, their sport and New Zealand.
- Ability to act in a responsible manner while representing New Zealand.
- No sailor shall receive the Scholarship more than once and the decision of the panel is final.
Scholarship recipients will receive...
The Scholarship recipient will receive their airfare to Canada - booked and arranged by Yachting New Zealand and we will endeavour to provide accommodation through the St John’s Rotary with a Rotary family in Canada.
Scholarship Recipients will be responsible for organizing the following:
- Boat charter
- Entry fee
- Insurance (organized through Yachting New Zealand)
Obligations of the successful recipient...
On return from their journey to their international regatta, the sailor shall offer to speak of their experiences at a St John’s Rotary meeting and will provide a report to Yachting New Zealand on their experiences with a framed photo provided to the St John’s Rotary and Yachting New Zealand. The sailor is required to display the St Johns Rotary Trust insignia on their sail. This will be supplied by the Trust.