The Canadian Yachting Association Rolex Awards Night was a rewarding time for Rob Douglas, who was named 2010 Coach of the Year.
On Feb. 26 in Toronto, Douglas was recognized for his work in starting the Comox Valley Sailing Team, which has enjoyed great success in its two years of operation.
Along with his wife Katrina, Douglas came to the Comox Valley in 2009 with a trailer full of boats in tow. "Before we had the house set up we started the sailing team," Douglas recalls.
The sailing team is geared towards racing in the Optimist class sailboat 鈥� "The world youth learn to sail boat." Its members range in age from eight to 15.
Douglas has been coaching professionally for 11 years. Katrina, a G.P. Vanier grad who lived in the Valley for three years prior to moving back, began sailing when she met her husband and is now a coach who helped set up the local sailing school.
The program filled up rapidly with a keen bunch of local sailors, most with little to no sailing experience. "Rob was able to coach them to be becoming competitive on the B.C. Sailing Circuit, culminating with four first-year sailors qualifying for the B.C. Summer Games," the CYA noted.
As well Chris Volkers, in his first year of racing, won a B.C. circuit Optimist class event (which has on average 50-70 sailboats competing) and is going to the national championships this August in Lunenburg, N.S.
Douglas said the success of the young sailors was a contributing factor to him receiving coach of the year honours. "That's kind of unheard of," he said of the team's competitive success. It usually takes two or three years to get to that level."
The CYA noted, "Rob was recognized not only for the success on the competition side of the sport, but also for the impact the team and program has had on the Comox Bay Sailing Club. With the team's success and enthusiasm, the sailing community has been rejuvenated around the Comox Marina."
That enthusiasm has the sailors eager to enjoy the year-round operation of the team, which has just begun its spring program. "We're training locally and will be competing in some away regattas, one as far away as San Francisco," Douglas said.
Douglas said the Comox Valley is beautiful location for sailing. "There's great winds in the spring and fall which are pretty fun."
A school teacher by profession, Douglas has been an avid sailor for 16 years. "I started with the Sea Cadet program when I came here in the summers at HMCS Quadra.
"I finished up with the cadet program and regular school and was still looking for something at the post-secondary level. Douglas College had a two-year program ... and my mentor happened to be a former Olympian and professional coach. She opened a whole bunch of doors for me."
Douglas coached the national team from 2004-2005 and this summer will be coaching at the North American championships in Los Angeles. His time with the national team made him realize work needed to be done to grow the sport at the grass roots level. "I refocussed and worked on that for four or five years in Vancouver," he said.
With the help of the Mobile Optimist Sailing School, which brings equipment and support to participating communities, Douglas said the number of young sailors in B.C. has increased from the low 20s into the hundreds.
He says that in terms of racing, the Comox Valley team is two or three years ahead of others in the province. "We're competitively provincially and hopefully nationally. They're a great bunch of kids."
Those wanting to find out more about the Comox Bay Sailing Team can contact Douglas at saildouglas@yahoo.ca.
sports@comoxvalleyrecord.com
