Yachting New Zealand’s RŪNĀ schools education programme goes global with first international rollout in Chile

Yachting New Zealand’s pioneering schools education framework, RŪNĀ, is charting new international waters, with its first overseas implementation planned at Colegio Puerto Varas, an English-Spanish bilingual school in Chile’s scenic Lake District. 

RŪNĀ was launched in late 2021 to integrate boating and yacht clubs more closely into their communities and to connect a broader and more diverse range of young New Zealanders with the sport. 

The programme integrates sailing, STEM, social sciences, and marine stewardship into three curriculum-aligned modules. 

Kōrinorino explores New Zealand histories and place-based identity; Kōkōkaha focuses on designing sustainable energy solutions through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; and Moanamana is a marine ecosystem monitoring and restoration initiative that engages students as citizen scientists while contributing to New Zealand’s Blue Belt. 

Colegio Puerto Varas, which serves 1,200 students, already runs a strong sailing curriculum for children aged 5 to 11. 

Interest in RŪNĀ first emerged last year when the school reached out to Yachting New Zealand to explore the programme, recalled Alisa Torgersen, Yachting New Zealand’s Education Lead. 

“The school first contacted us in October, and initially I was unsure how our programme could be implemented internationally,” Torgersen said. 

“Steve [Armitage, Yachting New Zealand CEO] was keen to explore the possibility, and we held online meetings with Club Deportivo Colegio Puerto Varas and the school’s senior leadership. They were very enthusiastic about RŪNĀ, as they did not yet have a STEM programme or a structured curricular plan. They could also see how, over time, the programme could help surrounding public schools engage in sailing and EPTION STEM education. From that point, the project began to take shape.” 

Alisa Torgersen, Yachting New Zealand's Education Lead.

María Gracia Fernández, General Manager of the school’s sports club, echoed this excitement. 

“RŪNĀ has truly inspired us. We believe it is one of the most meaningful and forward-thinking educational and environmental initiatives we have encountered. For years, we have sought a programme that connects sailing, learning, innovation, and care for the natural environment — and we have finally found it in RŪNĀ.” 

Fernández emphasised the unique opportunity this represents. 

“This is a project unlike anything we have seen before. To our knowledge, there is no other STEM programme that integrates sailing in this way. We are very excited. It represents an excellent investment and an exceptional opportunity for our students and for Yachting New Zealand.” 

Ezequías Alliende, one of the school’s co-founders and a passionate sailor, added, “It is exciting to see how RŪNĀ combines science, technology, and sailing into a single, practical, and engaging learning experience for students.” 

Kōkōkaha learning experiences are designed for ākonga in Years 5 to 10, focusing on harnessing the power of the wind through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

The programme combines classroom and sailing experiences: in the classroom, students engage in hands-on activities to explore how wind energy works, while on the water, they experience sailing firsthand and interact with resources that demonstrate sailing technologies in action. 

Learners then apply their knowledge to design a technology that harnesses wind energy. 

Kōkōkaha is designed for students in Years 5 to 10, focusing on harnessing the power of the wind through STEM. 

Alongside these STEM-focused activities, students also develop safer boating practices and water skills. According to Torgersen, the Kōkōkaha kit is en route to the school, marking the first RŪNĀ kit ever shipped overseas. 

The school is now preparing to introduce the programme in classrooms and on the water.

“The next step is to connect Colegio Puerto Varas with a New Zealand RŪNĀ club and school to provide ongoing support for the day-to-day delivery of the programme,” Torgersen said. 

“We look forward to observing how they implement the Kōkōkaha module and commence their STEM journey. Since initiating this partnership, we have seen increasing interest from other countries. It is tremendously exciting to witness a New Zealand initiative inspiring young learners and sailors on the other side of the Pacific.” 

Colegio Puerto Varas is an English-Spanish bilingual school in Chile’s scenic Lake District.

At Colegio Puerto Varas, teachers and sailing coaches are preparing for a phased rollout. 

The first semester, running from March to June, will focus on teacher training and lesson preparation, with classroom and on-water activities scheduled for the second semester, Fernández explained. 

“Our focus is on equipping teachers and coaches so that the programme offers a fully integrated learning experience for students. Over time, we aim to extend RŪNĀ to other schools and clubs in our region, becoming local representatives for this inspiring initiative,” she said. 

Domestically, the programme continues to grow. Last season, RŪNĀ reached a milestone with more than 7,000 students taking part — the first time the programme has exceeded the 7,000-participant threshold, up from 5,877 the previous year and just over 2,000 in its inaugural year. 

More than 20 clubs nationwide now deliver RŪNĀ programmes, with over 800 teachers actively using the RŪNĀ online platform.

For more information about the RŪNĀ programme, click here or contact Torgersen at alisa@yachtingnz.org.nz.