Yachting New Zealand has expanded its 2026 course calendar, confirming national race officer training, a Race Officials Conference, and a broad range of coaching and officiating development programmes across the country.
With clubs now a month into winter, the schedule is already under way, giving volunteers, coaches and officials a clear development pathway to build on before the next sailing season arrives.
In-person Start Coaching (Learn to Sail Coach) courses opened last month at Murrays Bay Sailing Club and will continue throughout the year. Confirmed venues and dates include Paremata Boating Club on 6-7 June, Royal Akarana Yacht Club on 20-21 June, Bay of Islands Yacht Club on 22-23 August, Manly Sailing Club on 29-30 August, and Naval Point Club Lyttelton across that same weekend. Sessions in other parts of the country are still being planned, with dates yet to be confirmed, and up to two online Start Coaching courses are also expected later in the year.
Anyone attending an in-person course must complete the online "Coaching Yachting 101" module beforehand, ensuring every participant arrives with a consistent knowledge base before the practical component begins.
National Race Officer training has been confirmed at three venues: Port Chalmers Boating Club on 13-14 June, Lake Taupō Yacht Club on 1-2 August, and Royal Akarana Yacht Club on 15-16 August. Experienced race officer John Parrish will facilitate all three courses. The programme is designed to bring club race officers through to national-level accreditation while also developing those already operating at that level.
The annual combined Race Officials Conference rounds out the winter calendar, set for 29 August in Christchurch and hosted by Pleasant Point Yacht Club. The full-day event brings together race officers, judges, umpires and measurers for a programme that combines shared sessions with specialist breakout streams, helping officials across all disciplines prepare for the summer regatta season ahead.
Yachting New Zealand General Manager: Community and Development, Raynor Haagh, highlighted the range of delivery formats as a deliberate move to widen access for people throughout 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.
Raynor Haagh can be contacted at raynor@yachtingnz.org.nz for further information.
