IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
FROM THE REGATTA CHAIRMAN, ANDY FETHERS
[ Local teams Conor Nicholas (Quantum Racing) & Will Boulden (Alpha Racing) competing at the 2020 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta as part of the 2020 City of Perth Festival of Sail – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography ]
THE WARREN JONES REGATTA IN 2021
In 2020 the Warren Jones International Youth Regatta reached new heights, with over 30 Expressions of Interest to compete from 9 different nations and the final line up including 10 competitors ranked in the top 100 in the world and a great representation across nations, genders and experience.
The competition was fierce, with tensions proving high as the teams showed their hunger to claim the Warren Jones Title. Feedback all round, on and off the water, this was one of the best Warren Jones Regattas yet and excitement was already building for what 2021 would bring.
Proposals with stakeholders in place, new innovations and additions were drafted and developed and the vision for 2021 was energetic. But, like just about everything in this world, even the greatest plans can be derailed. The global health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic has not only brought things into perspective for many around the world, it has also damaged global economies and communities and taken many lives.
With the Australian Government having hard international border restrictions and the Western Australian Government also having strict state border restrictions, international and national travel seems beyond our reach in February 2021. For this reason, the Warren Jones Foundation have made the decision for the Warren Jones International Youth Regatta to take a break in 2021. Whilst we pause this project for now and focus on some of our other constitutional purposes, we very much look forward to the time when we can welcome back the Warren Jones International Youth Regatta.
[ The Warren Jones International Youth Regatta Perpetual Australia II Jubilee Crystal Trophy, pictured at the prize giving of the 2020 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta as part of the 2020 City of Perth Festival of Sail – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography ]
[ The podium of the 2020 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta as part of the 2020 City of Perth Festival of Sail [L-R: Tom Grimes (Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Youth Academy) – 3rd Place, Harry Price (DownUnder Racing) – 1st Palce & Nick Egnot-Johnson (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Performance Programme – KNOTS Racing) – 2nd Place] – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography ]
THE WA TOUR & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Swan River Sailing and the Warren Jones Foundation both have the development of local youth sailors at the core of our ethos. With the void of the Warren Jones International Youth Regatta to fill in 2021, with great support from the Warren Jones Foundation, Swan River Sailing are very excited to announce the launch of the WA Tour & Development Program in Season 2020/21!
The WA Tour will consist of five existing and new events linked up as a series to provide an exciting program of events for local youth sailors to compete in this summer. The WA Tour will include weighted & aggregated scoring, handicaps and a prize pool of over $8K!
[ The 2019 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta as part of the 2019 City of Perth Festival of Sail – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography ]
With the border restrictions in place, and with the other effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many local youth sailors are unable to attend their previously aspired national and international events. Swan River Sailing would like to use this unprecedented opportunity to provide a fun, exciting, and purposeful program for these sailors to fill their unusual summer with fun, sailing and skill development.
[ Local skipper Marcello Torre and team members from Columbus Racing at the 2020 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta as part of the 2020 City of Perth Festival of Sail – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography ]
The Development Program is a commitment-based program that surrounds the WA Tour. Participants will need to be under 25 years of age to be involved and must apply as team (of a minimum three consistent team members) and commit to the entire program. A Commitment Deposit will need to be paid, and with successful completion of the program by participating in all WA Tour Events and achieving some key criteria, participants will earn their Commitment Deposit back! With the assistance of mentors assigned to each team, the experience is shaped to develop skills of participants on and off the water.
Successful completion of the Development Program will allow teams to be eligible to win a share of the WA Tour’s $8,500 in prize money and eligibility to claim one of two qualification spots in the National Sailing League for their club, which will go to the top two overall finishing eligible teams.
All the details for the Development Program can be found in the Participant Prospectus on the WA Tour page of the Swan River Sailing website. Applications for the Development Program are now open and close of Friday, 9 October. We encourage local youth sailors of all experience and ability levels to apply and if you have any questions or queries at all, please get in touch with us at info@swanriversailing.com and we will be more than happy to help!
2021 CITY OF PERTH FESTIVAL OF SAIL
Although Season 2020/21 is not like any other, there is a welcome return for one of our fan-favourites. The fleet will be returning to Perth Waters again in 2021 for the City of Perth Festival Sail which will be held on Tuesday 2 – Friday 5 February. Although not as grand of a budding program of events as previous years, the City of Perth Festival of Sail will include the City of Perth Youth Cup, in place of the Warren Jones Regatta, along with crowd favourites the Beach Clean Up with River Guardians, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions, Cleana Marina and Keep Australia Beautiful along with Women On Water. A Hybrid Corporate Cup and Sponsors Race will be included as the ‘Corporate Pro Am’ in conjunction with the Opening Function. And, instead of the pinnacle of the week being the Warren Jones Gala Luncheon, we are aiming to host a ‘flipped version’ with drinks on arrival aboard a flotilla to watch the finals of the City of Perth Youth Cup then returning ashore for a cocktail party at the Royal Perth Yacht Club’s brand new Catalina Bar!
More details are to be announced in due course, but please reserve these dates in your calendar for an exciting week of sailing and vibrant activities!
[ The Marsh Insurance Team at the 2019 Corporate Cup as part of the 2019 City of Perth Festival of Sail – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography ]
All of these new and refreshed projects are very exciting for Swan River Sailing especially during a difficult period. We are extremely grateful of the support from the community, from clubs (especially those who are kindly hosting our regattas this season; Royal Perth Yacht Club, Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club and South of Perth Yacht Club) and also, especially, from our long term supporters, the Warren Jones Foundation. Without this continued support, especially during the difficult times, Swan River Sailing wouldn’t be able to continue operating as we have for over thirty years. So, thank you, to each and every member of our extensive, supportive, fantastic community.
[ Long term sponsors, Okeland Communites, participating in the 2020 Corporate Cup as part of the 2020 City of Perth Festival of Sail – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography ]
[ The 2020 Warren Jones Gala Luncheon, pre-lunch drinks, at the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club – Photography Credit to Drew Malcolm Photography ]
Looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces around, on the water and (hopefully) at our events!
Stay safe, stay well and keep sailing!
Best Regards,
Andy Fethers
Executive Officer, Swan River Sailing
Regatta Chairman, Warren Jones Regatta
Regional Manager, Australian Sailing – WA
andy@swariversailing.com | +61 8 9386 9488
