Applications open for Steering the Course 2025 coaching, instructor and race official courses

Courses and Clinics will be funded by World Sailing, and applications are open until 28 February 2025. 

Across the two previous years of the program, courses and activities have been held in Greece, UAE, Bolivia, Barbados, Brazil, Bahamas, Grenada, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Japan and Uruguay.  

Fiona Kidd, World Sailing’s Head of International Development, said, “This marks the third year of delivering instructor, coaching, and race official courses through Steering the Course, demonstrating the strong passion women in sailing have for learning, growth, and inspiring their communities both on and off the water. World Sailing is proud to continue supporting sailing instructor, club race coach, performance coaching clinics, and race official courses, building a global network of female coaches and officials ready to lead national programs and advance to international officiating.”   

Applications should be made by those wanting to host a full course. Unfortunately, applications cannot be accepted for individual attendees.  

The courses aim to inspire organisers to think about long term development and offer a range of opportunities, including: 

• Upskilling officials or coaches to prepare for upcoming events 
• Training new officials or coaches to run more events or programs. 
• A chance to bring a group together to improve skills and create a national network of officials.      

The coaching pathway allows participants to take the first steps towards becoming an instructor or build on existing experience to be a sailing coach. Each course will teach how to safely prepare boats and equipment, develop sailing skills, tactics and strategy, while also helping to set performance goals and training plans for sailors at all levels. 

The Race Official Clinics are intended to introduce the different disciplines to countries where there is no formal Race Officiating Certification and provides a ground level for improving their Race Management, Judging and Umpiring. 

Available Courses – Instructing & Coaching

• Level 1 Technical Course for Coaches – Sailing Instructor – This first level of training covers all of the skills for a candidate to be able to teach someone to sail. Candidates will be confident sailors who wish to pass on their knowledge and passion to others. At the end of the course, Instructors will be competent in running a Learn to Sail program, as well as being equipped to run a sailing centre, manage other instructors and maintain a safe sailing environment. This is a seven-day course. 

• Level 2 Technical Course for Coaches – Club Race Coach – This second level course teaches coaches all about the first step in competitive racing. This course will provide attendees with the skills to coach at club race level. Including developing an understanding of tactics, Safety, goal setting and developing your coaching philosophy. This is a seven-day course. 

• Level 3 Technical Course for Coaches – Performance Coach – This course aims to prepare coaches for working in a performance environment or with sailors on a performance pathway. Performance Coach course will challenge the skills of a Club Race Coach to think at an international level. This is a five-day course. 

Available Disciplines – Race Officiating

• Race Management 

• Umpiring 

• Judging 

• Measurement 

World Sailing will also support successful applicants in choosing the most suitable course in the discipline for the participants.  

To apply for an Instructing or Coaching Course, please use the application form https://forms.office.com/e/M9HM6sCwHC 

To apply for a Race Officiating Clinic, please use the application form https://forms.office.com/e/hQDi3MDDUv 

Please contact catherine.duncan@sailing.org for more information. 

Read more about the Steering the Course plan here.