
This important step has been formalised by the recent signing of the One Sailing Implementation Agreement. This is a comprehensive agreement between Yachting Victoria and Yachting Australia and is the culmination of an extended period of consultation, discussion and negotiation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in this thorough and exhaustive process. This includes the Yachting Victoria and Yachting Australia boards, the staff of both bodies, the other MYA Presidents, and the many club commodores and officials who have provided input. I would like to thank our member clubs in general for their support as this process was undertaken.
The Implementation Agreement outlines the terms by which we will all go forward. In summary, one national management model will be adopted to provide services and support to the sailing community and to work collectively to advance sailing. Included in the Implementation Agreement are the resource levels that will be provided and the services that will be delivered. You may recall that during the process, reference was made to certain ‘safeguards’ being in place in order for Victoria to proceed. I’m pleased to advise that the Implementation Agreement, through its Service Schedule component, does cover all of the safeguards.
In terms of change, in Victoria the two main impacted areas will be the Board and the Staff.
Board
The Board will continue to play an important role in the overall governance of the sport and in terms of monitoring and reviewing the performance of One Sailing. Yachting Victoria will continue as a legal entity, will have a reduced chart of accounts, will hold insurance, and the Board, amongst its responsibilities, will be impacting the make-up of the national (YA) Board. The Board will meet regularly and take reports and updates from One Sailing staff and will annually contribute to the national strategic planning and budgeting. The member clubs will remain members of Yachting Victoria, as will the Honorary Life Members.
Staff
All One Sailing staff will become employees of Yachting Australia. The majority of the current YV staff will be assigned to Victoria specific roles and in several cases to the same role as current. In the first instance I’d like to congratulate Gavin Wall who will head up the Club Services team in Victoria as Regional Manager. Gavin will oversee a team of Club Services Officers including Ian Wall (Mobile Boatshed Manager), Chelsey Taylor (Boatshed Manager) and Paul Tweddell (Discover Sailing). Additions to this team are currently being worked through, including a replacement for Sam Watson, who it was announced recently, has accepted a new role at Lacrosse Victoria and in doing so leaves the One Sailing transition. We wish Sam the best in his endeavours.
Each of Steve Walker (GM Commercial and Government), Lesley Fasala (Events Manager) and Kate Lathouras (Communications Coordinator – Events) take on new national roles with Victoria specific elements. They will be based in the One Sailing - Melbourne office, along with the others outlined above. Planning is also underway to include a Regional Talent Officer with some Victorian specific responsibilities.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the long-time YV Bookkeeper David Vickers who has decided not to take up a role with One Sailing, and rather to spend more time sailing, playing golf and holidaying. David has been a great servant for the sport and he will be missed however we do expect him to still be around for a few more transitional months before we will wish him well for what sounds a bit like retirement.
In summary the Board is confident that with the above Melbourne based staffing, as well as the additional support and resources coming from other locations, that the services and support to clubs, and the sport in general, will be elevated. We will be working hard with all parties to successfully bring in this change and to realise the benefits.
At this point in time all contact details of the office and staff remain the same and I encourage you to continue to liaise with the office, staff and Board as previously.
I look forward to seeing many of you at an upcoming ‘Roadshow’, Club Conference, general meeting, club activity or out sailing. I also look forward to seeing enhanced services and support to our clubs and to the success of One Sailing.
Ian Cunningham
President