SAILING KZN

Tel.: (031) 3013078 (8:30 – 12:30)

Fax.: (031) 3073902

E-mail: sailsa@hit.co.za

P.O Box 2224

Durban

4000

TO ALL CLUBS

THE ROLE OF SA SAILING

There is a great deal of misunderstanding amongst the sailing community regarding the role of SA Sailing (SAS) and how it affects the average sailor in South Africa.

The prevailing view is that SAS exists solely for the benefit of the yacht and dinghy racing fraternity that spends membership money on sending a few competitors to

international events.

While SAS does organise regattas and their associated administration (it represents South Africa at ISAF, provides stewardship of the International Racing Rules

that allow us to race here) it has a far more important and unrecognised role of administering sailing at the discretion of Government.

Hence the role of SAS is a broad one and to meet the diverse obligations to the Government and its own membership it is restructuring with a new and dynamic

management team. SAS allows us yachtsmen and dinghy sailors to get on with our sport without major individual costs and considerable red tape.

There are large costs in administering this business and you will now understand why SAS needs your annual levies. Would you prefer to pay an annual

R120 to SAS or R800 each year to perhaps a government inspector to have your boat inspected before you can legally use it?

For many years, SAS has been considered by its members to be a bunch of politicians, doing nothing for the sport and demanding money from its members.

Although this is not entirely true, it is that perception that needs to be changed. The current SAS council recognises that the best way to change these

perceptions is to become actively involved in the sport where it matters most, on the water and amongst the sailors.

What does SAS do for you? And what does SAS want to do for you the sailor?

OFFSHORE AND INLAND

1. Negotiation and Liaison with:

a. National Ports Authority

b. SAMSA

c. Marinas

d. Department of Transport

2. Special Regulations Offshore and Inland

3. Liaison with

a. ISAF

b. IOC

c. NOCSA

4. Boat registrations

5. Communications / Cruising

6. Blue water Racing / Cruising

7. IRC / Handicapping

8. Skippers Tickets

9. Examiners

10. Sailing Schools

The Department of Transport (DoT) amongst its other functions is responsible for the enactment of the Merchant Shipping Act that from the yachtsmen’s viewpoint

legislates for the use of small craft both inland and offshore. Some twenty years ago, initiatives by CASA management undertook to administer the Act at the

discretion of the Minister of Transport to ensure that yachtsmen were not burdened with regulations and paperwork that were both impractical and unreasonable.

The control and administration of this Act as applicable to yachtsmen is today vested in SAS. The Merchant Shipping Act continues to be amended and

of particular importance to yachtsmen and other small craft users is the Merchant Shipping Small Vessels Safety Regulations 2002 that was gazetted in April 2002.

SAS has been involved with various bodies including SAMSA in drafting these new regulations and while meeting the Governments safety requirements will be

seen as being both sensible and practical.

The new regulations will put an increased burden on SAS and through it to the Yacht Clubs to meet the new safety criterion. For example, all boats will

need to be registered, there will be annual safety checks of all small craft requiring the issue of certificates, and for those operating offshore,

skippers tickets will become a necessity.

MARKETING

SAS sees its responsibility to its members under this portfolio as:

1. Communications

2. Advertising & Promotions

3. Service Delivery

4. Identity

5. Management of Perceptions

6. Feedback

7. Branding of the sport and events

8. Representation at Functions / Events

9. Funding and Sponsorship

Sailing as a sport needs to be more visible to the community at large. We, the clubs and classes, organize and host events of international, national

and local interest. These events are ideal opportunities to advertise the sport. We have amazing sailing waters along our coastline and inland –

we aim to become a premier sailing venue in the world. This can be done if we improve our profile and actively and professionally market sailing.

South Africa has a boating industry with a growing reputation throughout the world. This organization recognizes the need to assist this aspect of

our sport to develop and succeed. With locally produced boats, sails and equipment the costs of sailing can be brought within reach of the average sailor.

We must also not forget the retail stockist, who plays an important role in making these products accessible to the sailor.

COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL SAILING

What should SAS do?

1. Assistance to and coordination of Clubs

2. Sailing Schools

a. Manuals

b. Instructors

c. Accommodation

d. Venues

3. Marketing and Promotion

a. Road Shows / Recruitment

b. Seminars

c. Media

4. Training and accreditation of “Primary Level” Event officials

5. Classification and Grading of Sailors

6. Liaison with Government Departments and NGO’s

7. Collection & Distribution of Government Funding

8. Database of Recruits and development programs

9. Equipment

Like other sports and recreations, there are requirements from the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) that sailing implements development programs to

involve the previously disadvantaged members of our community. It is in our interests to comply with these requirements and there is DSR funding to

assist in their implementation. The requirements have been drawn up to cover all sports and have serious implications for sailing.

We need to be imaginative in dealing with this issue and the Government is looking to SAS to provide answers.

Whilst “development” is a “buzz” word in South Africa today, SAS recognizes the need to develop the sport amongst all population groups, ages and genders.

Sailing is a sport in which even the physically handicapped are able to participate. The clubs and classes have a major role to play as their future depends

on the introduction of sailing to all these potential participants in the sport.

As things currently stand, clubs and classes feel that SAS has no right to this information and are not prepared to part with it. This view is extremely short sighted,

as development is taking place in numerous quarters throughout the country. We need to be able to tell government and potential sponsors what we are doing

and how well we are doing it.

HIGH PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT

The responsibilities of SAS towards this aspect of our sport include:

Identification of talent
Nurturing of the identified talent

Coaching
Health and Fitness
Psychological preparation and development
Defining of classes and events for preparation

Financial Assistance
Team and athlete Management
Logistics

Entries
Flights
Insurance
Equipment
Accommodation

Sports Science
Doping Control and awareness
Liaison and fulfilling requirements of NOCSA, DSR, ISAF, IOC

SAILING MANAGEMENT

1. Racing Rules

2. Appeals and review

3. Race Officers - Judges

a. Setting of Standards

b. Classification

c. Qualification

d. Appointment

4. Event Management

a. Standards

b. Logistics

5. Handicaps and Ratings

6. Technical

a. Measurers

7. Sanctioning of Events

a. Ensure compliance with government requirements for participation in International Events.

b. Make application to government for permission to host events with International participation.

c. Setting and Maintenance of standards for National Events

8. Administration of and setting qualification criteria for Sailing Awards

9. Class Association Recognition

10. Club Affiliation

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

Financial – Systems & Reporting

Budgets
Financial Statements
Class Administration

Secretarial support to standing committees and Council
Statistics

Government Returns
Affiliated Bodies

Boat Registrations
Ratings and Handicap Administration
Issuing and recording of Skippers’ Tickets
Event Management

Training – Manuals (Control & Distribution)
Results – Compilation
Membership
Class Administration
Revenue

Staff and Office Management
Maintenance of Database of Members, boats etc.

It is extremely important to remember that you the sailor are SAS.

The 5 councilors and the standing committees are volunteers with the interests of sailing at heart. They do not receive a cent for their efforts.

It actually costs them money to work for you.

Each one of them

- pays the same SAS fees as you,

- pays the same class fees as you in order to sail their boats,

- steals time from their employers to do work for sailing,

- does not claim for reimbursement of expenses

Please understand that an organization such as SAS requires the financial support of all its constituents, and without such support SAS cannot provide the

services expected of it from its members.

For SAS to really work, the question that needs to be asked is “What can I do for SAS?” When you have the answer to that one, please give your local SAS office a call

– your help is needed.

Holding a Regatta

Contact the local office for assistance with all your needs – Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, Application for Sanction of the event.

Competing Overseas

Anyone competing in an event outside the borders of RSA requires the sanction of the South African Sports Commission. Contact Heather and she will assist you.

Extracts Taken from North Vaal News Letter

We as a Regional committee are striving to keep cost down and still make sailing affordable for the sailor.

Kieron Moore

Chairman Sailing KZN

SAS Regional Representative