Yachting New Zealand Youth Scholarship
The Yachting New Zealand Youth Scholarship was established to support New Zealand’s top youth sailors who are attending youth world championship events or similar agreed international events.
The goal of the scholarship is to:
- assist current youth programme members to attend a youth class world championship, Youth Sailing World Championships, or similar agreed international event as part of their preparation towards future success;
- provide sailors with the opportunity to gain experience from travelling and competing outside New Zealand;
- help sailors be as well prepared as possible to perform at youth class world championships and Youth Sailing World Championships.
A maximum of six individual scholarships may be awarded.
Scholarships will be awarded up to a maximum of $2000 per sailor to help subsidise the cost of attending an agreed youth class world championship, Youth Sailing World Championships, or similar international event.
The event to be attended must be agreed to by Yachting New Zealand.
Scholarship funding will be managed by Yachting New Zealand and may be used to support approved event-related costs such as flights, accommodation, boat charter or other agreed expenses. Recipients will be required to work with the YNZ Youth Manager on how the funding is applied.
For double-handed classes, each sailor must apply individually. The panel may consider the team context when assessing applications, but scholarships are awarded to individual sailors.
Applications will be assessed by a Yachting New Zealand selection panel comprising:
- Polly Powrie
- Geoff Woolley
- Sam Mackay
- Harold Bennett
Selection process
The panel will assess applications against the purpose of the scholarship and the following criteria:
- eligibility and suitability of the event the sailor is seeking support for;
- recent sailing performance, including national, ranking and international results;
- future potential within the Yachting New Zealand youth and high performance pathway;
- the sailor’s 2026 and beyond sailing goals and planned events;
- how the scholarship will support the sailor’s preparation, development and performance;
- demonstrated commitment, attitude, programme engagement and alignment with YNZ youth programme values;
- any other funding applied for or received for the same purpose.
Commitment, attitude and programme engagement may be demonstrated through attendance and preparation for YNZ youth programme clinics and events, punctuality, communication with coaches and YNZ staff, training habits, openness to feedback, contribution to the group environment, respect for other sailors, coaches and support staff, and follow-through on agreed actions.
Where applications are closely ranked, the panel may also consider:
- demonstrated future potential;
- quality of preparation and campaign plan;
- balance across male and female sailors, classes, regions and campaign types.
Any actual or perceived conflict of interest will be declared and managed before decisions are made.
Yachting New Zealand reserves the right to award fewer than six scholarships if applications do not meet the required standard. All decisions will be confirmed by Yachting New Zealand and are final.
Recipient requirements
Recipients must submit a short investment report to Yachting New Zealand within four weeks of the agreed championship or event.
If a recipient does not attend the agreed event, or if the approved costs are no longer incurred, Yachting New Zealand may withhold, reallocate, or request the return of scholarship funding.
How to apply
Applications can be made by completing the Yachting New Zealand Youth Scholarship application form.
Applications close12th June 2026.
Completed applications should be sent to:
