Experienced Australian Coach Shane Smith will return to a national role with the Australian Sailing Team, having been announced as the Team’s first ever National Formula Kite Coach.

Smith was the Australian Sailing Team National 49erFX Coach from 2014-2017 and Women’s 470 Coach from 2017-2019 before moving to the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS), where he has been their Head Coach since 2020.

“We are delighted to have Shane re-joining the national coaching team as he brings a wealth of experience and expertise,” said Australian Sailing Team High Performance Director Iain Brambell.

“We are fully committed to fostering the long-term success of the Olympic Kite class, and under Shane’s leadership we are well-positioned to deliver on this goal.”

Smith has spent the past three years working with Queensland Formula Kite athletes Scott and Breiana Whitehead through his role at the QAS. He oversaw Brei’s sixth place at this year’s European Championships and seventh at the Worlds, results good enough to see her elevated to the Australian Sailing Team.

He will continue to work with QAS sailors as he will retain a role with the Institute as their Technical Coach.

“I am really looking forward to what is a really exciting challenge with the Formula Kite squad,” said Smith.

“I have been lucky enough to work with Brei and Scott in my past role, and this role will allow me to focus exclusively on the squad and their development towards Paris 2024.”

Smith and the squad will be heading to Sail Melbourne in January before a training block with the New Zealand Formula Kite squad in February. They will then head to Europe for the summer, including the Palma and Hyeres as they lead in to the 2023 Sailing World Championships in The Netherlands in August.