New Coaches!
Since the 1st July, we have put through close to 80 coaches through a range of Yachting New Zealand Learn to Sail Coach Courses. With a couple of Race Coach courses to be run just before the season truly gets underway, this is a fantastic number.
Clubs are encouraged to find coaches using our Coach search tool, found here.
Northland:
| Name | Club | Qualification |
| Stephen Smith | OYC | LTS Coach |
| Coral Headey | TYPBC/ based in Whangarei | LTS Coach |
Auckland:
| Name | Club | Qualification |
| Craig Keenan | KYC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Eloise Cameron-Smith | KYC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Finn Croft | LTS Coach | |
| Heather Niccolls | SYC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Jack Frewin | HSC | LTS Buddy Coach |
| Joshua Bull | SYC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Leah Sinton | WBC | LTS Buddy Coach |
| Mel Kirkman | KYC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Oscar Litle | RAYC | LTS Buddy Coach |
| Reece Caulfield | MBSC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Robbie McCutchoen | WBC | LTS Buddy Coach |
| Thomas Hurst | BBYC | Assistant LTS Coach |
Waikato
| Name | Club | Qualification |
| Emma Liddell | TSC | LTS Coach |
| Greg Mackenzie | TSC | LTS Coach |
| Jon Liddell | TSC | LTS Coach |
| Richard Sawyer | TSC | LTS Coach |
| Stuart Fanshawe | TSC | LTS Coach |
Bay of Plenty
| Name | Club | Qualification |
| Markus Anliker | BOPSAT | LTS Coach |
Wellington
| Name | Club | Qualification |
| Alan Clark | Sailability WLG | LTS Coach |
| Alan Stewart | Sailability WLG | LTS Coach |
| Alexander O'Connor | Sailability WLG | LTS Coach |
| Alice Leslie | Sailability WLG | LTS Coach |
| Darrell Smith | Sailability WLG | LTS Coach |
| Dean Apps | Sailability WLG | LTS Coach |
| Denise Faloon | Sailability WLG | LTS Coach |
| Eleonore van der Reyden | Sailability WLG | LTS Coach |
| Kelvin Smith | Sailability WLG | LTS Coach |
| Micheal Jones | Sailability WLG | LTS Coach |
| Noel Watson | Sailability WLG | LTS Coach |
| Peter Scott | Sailability WLG | LTS Coach |
| Ray Manning | Sailability WLG | LTS Coach |
| Richard Grocott | Sailability WLG | LTS Coach |
| Sarah Dunckley | Sailability WLG | LTS Coach |
| Andre Van Dam | PBC | LTS Buddy |
| Charlie Teagle | RPNYC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Daniel Winsley | PBC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Ella Dangerfield | EBYMBC | LTS Coach |
| Helena Terry | Assistant LTS Coach | |
| Kieren Fisher | HBC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Liz Kennedy | PBC | LTS Coach |
| Marcus Van Dam | PBC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Michael Winsley | PBC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Phil Williams | TRIYA | LTS Coach |
| Ryan Tait | PBC | LTS Buddy Coach |
Nelson
| Name | Club | Qualification |
| Bailey Arnold | NYC/TS Talisman | LTS Buddy |
| Danyon Puklowski | TS Talisman | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Ethan Older | TS Talisman | Assistant LTS Coach |
| James Bradley | TS Talisman | LTS Buddy Coach |
| Luca Ware | NYC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Melanie Burt | NYC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Nina Purves | NYC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Trevor Lane | NYC/TS Talisman | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Wilson Robertson-King | NYC/TS Talisman | Assistant LTS Coach |
Canterbury
| Name | Club | Qualification |
| Andy Milligan | KORE | LTS Coach |
| Cara Higinbottom | MPYC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Dan Chaffey | ASC | LTS Coach |
| Graham Fisher | PPYC | LTS Coach |
| Kyla Shelley | TYPBC | LTS Coach |
| Louis Nel | CBYC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Marina Kenton-Smith | NPYC | LTS Buddy Coach |
| Rupert Limbrick | CBYC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Scott Morrison | CBYC | Assistant LTS Coach |
| Stephen Horton | AYC | LTS Coach |
If you are missing off this list, or would like a coaching course run in your region, then please email the Coach Development Manger on gareth@yachtingnz.org.nz
Related news
New Zealand will send one of its strongest Finn fleets in recent years to Brisbane this February, with a 12-strong team contesting three major international regattas at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron: the 2026 Australian Finn Championships, the Finn Gold Cup and the Finn World Masters.
Wild weather in the north of the country has brought an early end to the 2026 ILCA national championships at Bay of Islands Yacht Club, with torrential overnight rain across parts of Northland forcing the cancellation of the final day’s racing.
New Zealand's top ILCA sailors are in hot pursuit of the internationals after two days of racing at the ILCA national championships in the Bay of Islands, with the visitors leading in two of the fleets.
