Matt Favier, director of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), unveiled the extension which allows the NTC at Sydney's Middle Harbour Yacht Club to integrate Paralympic training and accommodate more rigging and launching areas and coach boat storage.

The upgrade of the facility means Australia's Olympic and Paralympic sailors can train at the same venue for the first time.

The Australian Paralympic team qualified for Rio 2016 in each of the three boat classes at the 2014 International Association for Disabled Sailing World Championships in August.

London 2012 Paralympic gold medallists Liesl Tesch and Daniel Fitzgibbon won gold in the SKUD 18, Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris and Russell Boaden claimed bronze in the Sonar and Tasmanian Matt Bugg finished fifth in the 2.4mR.

Australia won one Paralympic medal at London 2012, a gold for Tesch and Fitzgibbon in the SKUD 18. 

"It is great to be training out of one facility and to have Olympic and Paralympic sailing on the same water and from the same facility," said Tesch.

"This is another tool in our arsenal as we head towards the Paralympic Games in just under two year's time.

"The facility is easily accessible and offers everything you need for high performance sailing.

"The National Training Centre is also putting the Australian sailing team brand out there to the next generation of world and Paralympic champion Australian sailors."

Matt Favier (right), director of the Australian Institute of Sport, officially opened the extended deck ©Australian Sailing & Yachting Australia




The new deck includes a crane, which will be used to lower boats into the water as well as support wheelchair athletes to access their boats.

"This state-of-the-art training centre provides Australia's top Olympic and Paralympic athletes and coaches with fantastic facilities," said Favier.

"Our sailing team has enjoyed great success across Olympic and Paralympic sailing and the available facilities at this Training Centre will only help the team continue this success in the future."

The creation of the NTC, as well as the extension, has been made possible thanks to the AIS's direct funding and project management.

The facilities at the NTC, which was originally opened in 2011, include coach offices, an AV debrief room, computer facilities, undercover boat storage, workshop, and athlete and coach change facilities.

"The National Training Centre facilitates the interaction and engagement between coaches and athletes across our disciplines and is incredibly important on our Road to Rio and into the future," said Peter Conde, performance director of Yachting Australia, the governing body for the sport of sailing in Australia.

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