The latest update from Australian Sailing's NSW & ACT General Manager – Niall Powers. Read all previous General Manager updates here.  

General Update 

Welcome to the second NSW & ACT update for 2026. Over recent months, the Club Support team has been focused on planning for our upcoming Australian Sailing events, alongside ongoing visits to Clubs and Discover Sailing Centres for annual reviews and strategic discussions. 

February and March have seen a wide range of Club and Class Association events across the state and territory. You can find coverage of recent activities on our website’s news page, and we encourage Clubs to continue submitting event reports and adding future dates to the events calendar. 

As the 2025–26 season draws to a close, now is the ideal time to begin planning for the year ahead. Our team is available to support your preparation and help ensure your programs and activities continue to thrive. Please reach out if we can assist. 

Sailing Summits – don’t forget to register!  

The 2026 Sailing Summits are quickly approaching! Please register your attendance now – these events are a great opportunity for Club representatives to network and learn the latest from Australian Sailing on new initiatives, resources, and projects. This year’s Sailing Summit agenda will include updates about the new Participation Plan for Sailing and the recently launched ‘Sail Lab’ STEM program. 

Who should attend? Key club and class association officials, including Flag officers & committee members, management and administration staff, Discover Sailing Centre principals and administrators, and Instructors and Coaches.  

Registration is now available, and the full agenda will be released ahead of the event. Attendance is free, and food will be provided throughout the day.  

ACTION ITEM FOR CLUBS: Register to attend a Sailing Summit here.  

Club Survey Reminder 

Earlier this month, all affiliated Clubs were sent the bi-annual Club Survey. This survey is one of the most important opportunities for clubs to directly influence the support, services and future decisions of Australian Sailing. The refreshed 2026 edition includes streamlined questions and improved feedback options, making it easier for clubs to share their priorities and challenges.  

Thank you to the clubs that have submitted a response. For the clubs that have not completed the survey, I kindly ask that your committee complete this as soon as possible. We encourage committees, management and administrator teams to meet and submit one consolidated response per club to ensure a considered and representative contribution. If your club has not received the survey, please get in contact.  

Training in Focus Live – Registration Now Open 

Sunday 14 June 2026 – Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club 

Training in Focus Live is Australian Sailing’s professional development workshop series for Instructors, Discover Sailing Centre Principals, Training Coordinators and Centre Administrators. Each event includes a mix of practical sessions, facilitated discussion and peer learning, with contributions from industry experts, Senior Instructors, Chief Instructors and Australian Sailing staff. Participants will gain practical ideas, coaching techniques and program insights that can be applied directly within their own training environments. 

For Club Instructors and Discover Sailing Centre Principals, Training in Focus Live offers a valuable chance to deepen professional practice and stay aligned with the latest national training standards. By engaging directly with peers and industry leaders, participants can explore fresh approaches to lesson delivery, risk management, centre operations and participant engagement. The event also creates space to discuss common challenges, workshop solutions, and share successful initiatives, ensuring that instructors and centre leaders return to their clubs better equipped to enhance program quality, strengthen participant pathways and contribute to a vibrant, safe and welcoming sailing community. 

Attendance is complimentary, but registration is required. Register here.  

Sail Our Way – Participation Grant Round 2 Now Open 

Women and girls continue to face barriers to participating in sport — often shaped by longstanding gender inequities. The Sail Our Way Participation Grant Program, an initiative of Australian Sailing and proudly funded through a successful grant from the Department of Health and Aged Care, is working to change that.  

Round 2 of the Sail Our Way grant is now open, providing affiliated sailing clubs and class associations with further opportunity to create safe, inclusive and welcoming environments where women and girls can thrive — on and off the water.  Eligible clubs and class associations can apply for up to $1,500 (ex GST) to deliver participation initiatives that: 

Applications close 20 April 2026. Learn more and apply here. 

Participation Planning 

Australian Sailing’s Participation resources provide clubs with practical tools and guidance to help strengthen programs, improve participant experiences and support long‑term growth. The Participation Hub brings together planning templates, communication tools, workforce development resources and program design support, giving clubs everything they need to deliver high‑quality, engaging and sustainable sailing activities. These resources make it easier for clubs to plan effectively, attract new sailors and create positive, welcoming experiences for members and participants alike. 

Resources you can find include Participation planning templates, Instructor & Coach induction templates, quick win checklists, parent information handbook and induction templates, and quality experience checklists. View the resources in our Participation Hub.  

Regional Advisory Committee Nominations 

Australian Sailing will soon be calling for nominations for representatives to join the New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory Regional Advisory Committees. Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) representatives engage with and provide feedback from member clubs, and advocate and promote sailing and Australian Sailing. RAC representatives can be nominated by their member clubs when a call for nominations is issued in May for their respective region (NSW or ACT). 

Upcoming Training Courses 

Looking for an Instructor, Coach or Officials course in 2026? We have several upcoming courses with limited spaces still available.  

Register for an Instructor or Coach course

Can’t find a course you are looking for? Send an email to nsw@sailing.org.au to express your interest in Instructor, Coach and Officiating courses. Don’t forget, you can still get started with our free online eLearning courses.  

ACTION ITEM FOR CLUBS: Share the benefits of accreditation with your members to grow the volunteer workforce at your club.  

Events Calendar 

There are still plenty of events taking place over the coming months. View all events on the NSW & ACT Sailing Event Calendar.  

ACTION ITEM FOR CLUBS: Add your events to the calendar! Contact nsw@sailing.org.au for information on how to add your events to the calendar.  

Contact our team 

If your Club is looking for guidance – whether in planning, participation growth, training delivery, governance, or event support – please reach out to our team. We are here to assist and are always happy to discuss how we can best support your Club.