Sailability trusts from across New Zealand converged on Wellington on 25 September for the first-ever Sailability National Hui, a gathering aimed at sharing ideas, celebrating what's working and exploring new ways to grow inclusive sailing.
Hosted by Yachting New Zealand at Evans Bay Yacht and Motorboat Club, the hui brought the national network together to exchange practical knowledge, strengthen connections and help shape Sailability's future in Aotearoa.
Yachting New Zealand General Manager Community and Development Raynor Haagh said the hui was a chance to build on work already under way around the country.
"Every Sailability trust is different, and that's one of the strengths of the programme," she said. "They're responding to the needs of their sailors, their volunteers and their local communities in different ways, but there's a huge amount they can learn from each other."
That variety showed up clearly in discussions about pathways into sailing and racing. Auckland and Tauranga have each developed informal pathways taking sailors from therapeutic and recreational sailing through to learning the sport and, for those keen to progress, racing.
Auckland's entry points include a sailing simulator and virtual reality sailing, alongside recreational sailing, racing and Liberty boats fitted with servo controls for sailors with higher support needs.
Tauranga, meanwhile, is marking ten years of Sailability. The trust has around 100 sailors on its books, with several dozen taking to the water each sailing day alongside around 30 volunteers. Its programme includes learn-to-sail sessions, distance and destination sails, keelboat days and racing.
Volunteer development was another key theme, with trusts sharing approaches to recruitment, training and retention. RIB and powerboat training, coaching, first aid and disability awareness were identified as priorities.
"Volunteers are the backbone of Sailability," Haagh said. "There was a lot of practical knowledge shared around how trusts can recruit the right people, give them the training and support they need, and make volunteering a rewarding experience."
Participants also identified opportunities for Yachting New Zealand to support coach development, provide tailored resources and strengthen volunteer training. The on-the-ground support of Yachting New Zealand's Disabled Sailing Manager, Wayne Holdt, was singled out as particularly valuable.
Funding and governance sessions covered practical approaches to grant applications and building relationships with local funders, with Yachting New Zealand's Regional Development Manager network available to help trusts identify opportunities.
Safeguarding was also high on the agenda. The national organisation facilitated a practical workshop examining risks including bullying, inappropriate behaviour, communication difficulties, medication and participants becoming distressed on the water. Measures discussed included better briefings, clear responsibilities, appropriate supervision, participant information and straightforward reporting processes.
The future of Yachting New Zealand's Sailors with Disabilities Committee was also discussed, with strong support for expanding it to include a representative from each trust alongside ongoing sailor representation.
The hui also explored emerging opportunities including virtual reality sailing, seated foiling and a proposal to bring sailing into the Special Olympics. Upcoming events include the North Island Hansa Regatta at Lake Rotoiti in November and the 2027 Hansa Nationals in Auckland.
For Haagh, the hui's value lay in connecting the network and identifying opportunities to work together.
"The biggest takeaway for me was the willingness of everyone in the room to share what's working, be honest about the challenges and look at what we can do together," she said.
"We want to build on that. This shouldn't be a one-off conversation. There was strong support for bringing the network together regularly, and we're committed to continuing that dialogue and working with the units to turn some of the ideas from the hui into action."
