Bumper coaching, race official course calendar set for busy winter

Yachting New Zealand has beefed up its 2026 course calendar, with national race officer training and the popular annual Race Officials Conference confirmed alongside a full suite of coaching and officiating development opportunities.

As clubs settle into the first full month of winter, the programme is underway to help volunteers, coaches and officials upskill ahead of the next sailing season.

A series of in-person Start Coaching (Learn to Sail Coach) courses began last month at Murrays Bay Sailing Club and will run throughout the year, with confirmed dates at Paremata Boating Club (6-7 June), Royal Akarana Yacht Club (20-21 June), Bay of Islands Yacht Club (22-23 August), Manly Sailing Club (29-30 August) and Naval Point Club Lyttelton on the same weekend. 

Additional courses are also planned for other parts of the country, with dates still to be confirmed, alongside up to two online Start Coaching courses later in the year.

Coaches attending in-person courses are required to complete the online “Coaching Yachting 101” module beforehand, ensuring a consistent foundation before moving into practical sessions. 

On the officiating side, Yachting New Zealand has confirmed its National Race Officer training courses for Port Chalmers Boating Club (13-14 June), Lake Taupō Yacht Club (1-2 August) and Royal Akarana Yacht Club (15-16 August), all facilitated by experienced race officer John Parrish. The programme is designed to develop club race officers into national-level officials while upskilling those already in the role.

The annual combined Race Officials Conference will also be held in Christchurch on 29 August, hosted by Pleasant Point Yacht Club, bringing together race officers, judges, umpires and measurers for a full-day programme of shared and specialist breakout sessions ahead of the summer regatta season.

Yachting New Zealand General Manager: Community and Development, Raynor Haagh, said the breadth of in-person and online options is designed to make ongoing development more accessible across the country.

“Alongside the in-person opportunities, there are also online Club Race Officer, Club Umpire (Teams), Introduction to Race Officiating and Coaching 101 courses available, giving volunteers and officials the flexibility to continue developing their knowledge at any time during the year,” Haagh said.

For the complete Yachting New Zealand course calendar, click here or contact Haagh at raynor@yachtingnz.org.nz for more information.