Yachting New Zealand actively seek to improve and maintain the quality of judging, umpiring and race management by providing courses, training and forums to keep aspiring and active race officials educated and informed.
Below are a list of the race official training opportunities Yachting New Zealand offers. See the course calendar for upcoming scheduled courses and training opportunities for officials.
Upcoming courses
If there is no course scheduled near you, register your interest in attending below and we will keep you updated when we organise one.
Here are the different types of courses we offer:
Introduction to Race Officiating
Cost: Free for club members
The online Introduction to Race Officiating course provides an introduction to the concepts and knowledge required to become a qualified race official (race officer, judge or umpire) or competent on-water volunteer.
The Introduction to Race Officiating course is delivered online, on-demand via Yachting New Zealand's Embark learning platform
Club Race Officer
Cost: Free for club members
The online Club Race Officer course aims to provide the knowledge and skills required to ensure quality, consistent and fair race management for sailors. Completion is a requirement for appointment and renewal as a YNZ qualified Club Race Officer, but it is also suitable for any sailors and volunteers who would like to understand more about how races are run.
The Club Race Officer course is delivered online, on demand via Yachting New Zealand's Embark learning platform.
National Race Officer Seminar
This seminar will train and develop club race officers to become National Race Officers, as well as continue to upskill current National Race Officers. Attendance will be a requirement for appointment and renewal as a YNZ-qualified National Race Officer.
Racing rules seminar
Duration: one day
Cost: Free
These seminars offer sailors, parents, coaches and beginners to judging an opportunity to become more familiar with the Racing Rules of Sailing, judging processes and the roles of judges. Attendees will gain in-depth knowledge about the rules (with a special emphasis on part 2: when boats meet) and an insight into how judges interpret and apply the rules.Course outline.
Club judging seminar
Duration: two days (over a weekend)
Cost: Free
These seminars are run regionally and focus on the skills and practices of judging and protest committees and include interactive exercises and mock protest hearings. This seminar is a prerequisite to appointment as a qualified club judge. Contact your regional development manager to register interest for a course in your area. Course outline
National judging seminar
Duration: two days (over a weekend)
Cost: Free
These seminars focus on the skills and practices of judging and protest committees and include interactive exercises and mock protest hearings. This seminar is a prerequisite to appointment as a qualified club or national judge. Course outline
Teams racing umpire seminar
Duration: two days, plus on-the-water assessment/evaluation
Cost: Free
These seminars are focused primarily on the Racing Rules of Sailing and practical components of umpiring including boat placement and making calls specific to teams racing. This seminar is a prerequisite to appointment as a club and national umpire - teams racing.
This seminar is held in the lead-up to the National Secondary Schools Teams Racing Regatta with on-the-water practical assessments/evaluations during the regatta for those wishing to gain their teams racing umpire qualification. Course outline
Match racing umpire seminar
Duration: two days
Cost: Free
These seminars are focused primarily on the Racing Rules of Sailing and practical components of umpiring including boat placement and making calls specific to match racing. This seminar is a prerequisite to appointment as a club and national umpire - match racing. Course outline
Race Officers conference
Duration: one day
Cost: Free
The Race Officers conference is held annually and is a chance for accredited Club, National and International Race Officers to get together to discuss race management issues and promulgate best practice.
Judges Forum
Duration: one day
Cost: Free
The Judges forum is held annually and is a chance for accredited Club, National and International judges to get together to discuss judging issues and promulgate best practice.