Coaching from strengths to strengths Operating from a 40-foot TEU shed in the A/B-row carpark during the 2024 renovations didn’t slow things one bit! “Wow, 2024 has been a huge year for coaching at RQYS!” reports Adrian Finglas, having kick-started the year in Adelaide at the Laser (ILCA) and Opti Nationals, with a huge group of Squadron sailors making the road trip southwest across the country to do Queensland proud with their results. Supported by Head Opti Coach Kate Baisden, Adrian made the cross-country journey with a large RQYS contingent to achieve a significant first. The Laser crews received the Team Trophy for the Best State Team based on results, with RQYS sailors dominating this event and helping win the first award for Queensland! Adrian was busy all year, preparing sailors young and old for competition, both nationally and internationally. The WAGS fleet has also benefited from his counsel, improving Members’ skills and tactics around the varied courses selected by Paul and Nelly Bolton each Wednesday. Our Head Coach clocked another few hundred kilometres with the annual pilgrimage north to the Australian Sailing Youth Week events in Yeppoon and we have good reason to be proud of the podium and other results achieved by our RQ Youth Squad members. Junior and Youth sailing numbers at the Squadron weekly are ‘going through the roof’ and Adrian justly attributes this to our amazing team of “red-shirts” — the Coaches and Instructors engaging with young sailors — who can be seen from the Tackers Lawn to the windsurfing beach, or delivering a Gumdale State School (see p.43) “Learn to Sail” session. RQYS had record numbers of young sailors competing internationally this year, who all have had guidance from our coaching staff at different steps of their careers — read more from page 54. During the Cavill Building renovations the Sailing Academy was temporarily relocated in the A/B-row parking area — which gave the team new offices and outlook during 2024 — but are expected to be back in full swing in the traditional classrooms early in the New Year. RQYS is a big family and the friendships that are formed on the rigging lawn can be lifelong. Adrian has had many second- and third-generations of families learning to sail this year, and he feels a great sense of pride when he hears a Mum and Dad say to their child, “Adrian was my Coach.” Many international Olympic Sailing Federations are starting to ‘knock on our door’ and ask about Brisbane and what we have to offer here at RQYS: the next few years are going to be exciting times with our Squadron and Waterloo Bay on display for the global sailing community. Adrian says it is amazing to see our RQYS brand at the forefront of international racing again! n 21 Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Yearbook Mainsheet 2024 Head Coach’s Report
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