Former Australian Sailing Squad (ASS) athlete Amelia Catt has become the latest star to join the Australian Sailing (AS) Performance Pathways team, following her appointment as the Performance Pathways Advisor in Tasmania.

Catt will draw on her extensive, high-performance experience as both an athlete and a coach to lead the development of sailors from her home state both on and off the water.

Catt is delighted to begin in this role, having recently refined her skills through the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Accelerate Program for Women.

“I’m excited to be jumping into the role in my home state. I still remember when Tasmania joined up to the national system when I was a kid and we started getting coaching and support, it’s fitting to continue the journey from athlete to coach myself and give back to the next generation,” said Catt.

“I recently retired from being a High-Performance athlete in the 470 class and have had some amazing support transitioning to coaching from both AS and from the AIS, while also representing as part of the AIS’s Thrive with Pride committee.”

Having grown up and begun her sailing career in Tasmania, Catt is well versed in the unique challenges that the State faces in regard to athlete and competition progression.

“We’ve always been a small program punching above our weight and we are proud to be resourceful and transition athletes into national development and High-Performance teams in the past,” continued Catt.

“A big challenge to Tasmanians is getting the training partners and competition to progress, so we will work at home on what we can and then head to the mainland.

“We are lucky for the partnership between the Tasmanian Institute of Sport, Australian Sailing and a few key clubs on the Derwent, we can’t forget the parents of sailors and their efforts to support their children.”

Catt’s appointment is a step forwards for the southern state and the Australian Sailing Performance Pathways Program as a whole, allowing high quality coaching to be accessible for athletes regardless of location.

“Having the ability to support Tasmanian sailors in this capacity is an important part of ensuring we provide a platform for young sailors to progress in the sport,” started National Performance Pathway Manager Ken Lynch.

“While the role is only for a set number of days (60), having Amelia involved will help provide a combination of direct coaching and enhanced education about how to get on to and progress along the performance pathway.

“With our partners we’re looking forward to seeing the program get more established in Tasmania and excited about what it can achieve,” finished Lynch.

Catt’s personal competitive resume includes an Australian Mixed 470 National Championship and a silver medal at the Hempel World Cup Allianz Regatta in 2022. Alongside Skipper Chris Charlwood, the pair were the top-placed Mixed 470 team on the World Sailing rankings in 2022.

With her elite level experience racing and coaching, Catt is positioned perfectly to support Tasmanian athletes on their path to future successes.

Australian Sailing encourages athletes, coaches and parents to connect with the team as they embark on their new roles with the organisation.