The latest update from Australian Sailing's NSW & ACT General Manager - Niall Powers.

Read all previous General Manager updates here.

Welcome to the August update from the NSW & ACT Club Support team! 

Since our last update, we were pleased to deliver two successful events for our club community: the ACT Sailing Summit and Training in Focus LIVE in NSW. The ACT Sailing Summit was well attended by the club and Discover Sailing Centre network in ACT, demonstrating the value of clubs and DSC’s sharing ideas and working together. Training in Focus LIVE provided Instructors and Discover Sailing Centre Principals with valuable professional development and learning ahead of the new season. The practical and interactive sessions covered how to increase participant retention, effectively utilise Instructor resources, and improve overall sail training program delivery. 

We were also delighted to welcome Palm Beach Yacht Club as a newly affiliated Australian Sailing member club. Based in Pittwater, NSW, Palm Beach Yacht Club was established to promote friendly sailing racing, cruising and social activities for its members. Through affiliation with Australian Sailing, the club will be able to strengthen its connections with other sailing clubs in the Pittwater and Broken Bay area while accessing the extensive resources, support and systems available to assist with club administration, governance and participation. We look forward to working with PBYC and supporting their continued success!

Looking ahead, it is a buy few months coming up as the 2026-27 season gets underway, the NSW & ACT Sailing Awards in September, and two Zhik Youth Sail events taking place in October! Clubs and class associations are busy planning programs, events and training activities, while sailors, volunteers and officials prepare for another exciting season on the water.

Zhik Youth Sail 2026 – Entries open!

Entries are now open for the NSW & ACT Zhik Youth Sail 2026 events. Zhik Youth Sail continues to be one of the premier youth sailing opportunities in Australia, bringing together junior and youth sailors from across the region for a week of racing, learning and connecting with fellow sailors.

We have assembled a fantastic team of coaches for both events, providing sailors with access to high-quality coaching and mentoring throughout the regatta. We are also excited to have some of our Paris Olympic athletes as guest speakers again, who will share their experiences and journey from youth sailing to the highest levels of our sport.

• Zhik Youth Sail NSW
  Toronto Amateur Sailing Club
  Wed 30 Sept to Mon 5 Oct 2026
• Zhik Youth Sail ACT
  Canberra Yacht Club / YMCA Canberra
  Fri 9 to Sun 11 Oct 2026

Action item for Clubs: Share the event information with your members and encourage your junior and youth sailors to enter and participate.

Regional Advisory Committee Update

I am pleased to announce the outcomes of the recent Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) elections for both the NSW and ACT committees. RAC representatives engage with and provide feedback from member clubs, and advocate for and promote sailing and Australian Sailing. 

In NSW, Hugh Tait (TASC) and Michael Lindsay (RSYS) were re-elected to the Regional Advisory Committee, while Margaux Everett (PSYC) joins as a newly elected member. They will work alongside continuing committee members Lisa Callaghan, Paddy Butler and Tony Sutton, who remain in their roles for another year. We acknowledge and thank Laurie Hoffman for her contributions to the NSW committee over the past three years, as she steps away from the RAC. 

In the ACT, Peter Ottesen (CORC), Eric Hines (YMCA) and Sue Hart (CYC) were elected to the Regional Advisory Committee. This marks the first ACT RAC election following the winding up of Yachting ACT in. Additional members may be invited to join the committee to serve a one-year appointed term.

I thank all committee members for their commitment to supporting clubs and Australian Sailing, and congratulate the new and returning representatives who have been elected. You can find out more about the Regional Advisory Committees and contact the representatives via the Member States page on our website. 

NSW & ACT Sailing Awards

Thank you to everyone who has submitted a nomination in the 2026 Sailing Awards. We were delighted to receive a strong field of nominations again this year, highlighting the incredible work being undertaken throughout Sailing. The judging panel is currently reviewing submissions, and finalists will be announced soon.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 NSW & ACT Sailing Awards Presentation, which will be held on Saturday 19 September 2026at Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. This is always an enjoyable evening where the sailing community comes together to celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of sailors, volunteers, officials, coaches, instructors and clubs.

Purchase tickets here: 2026 NSW & ACT Sailing Awards Presentation

Local Sport Grant Program 2026/27 – Applications now open

The NSW Government's Local Sport Grant Program 2026/27 is now open and may provide funding opportunities to support your club. For program information and eligibility details, please visit the NSW Government website.

Clubs applying for the grant are required to submit a Statement of Support Affiliation Form. Applicants must complete Section A, before sending the form to Australian Sailing for endorsement. Forms must be received no later than Wednesday 19 August to allow Section B to be completed and returned ahead of the grant closing date. Please email Statement of Support requests to Niall Powers, General Manager Club Support NSW/ACT. 

Discover Sailing Day – get your November events live now!

We are encouraging all Clubs to hold a Discover Sailing Day this November, as part of Discover Sailing Month. The annual nationwide initiative to promote Sailing provides clubs with a valuable opportunity to open their doors to the community and introduce more people to the sport in a welcoming and accessible environment.

Publishing your event on the Discover Sailing website early gives your club the best opportunity to build registrations, maximise exposure through Australian Sailing's national Discover Sailing Month campaign and website, and give participants plenty of time to discover and register for your event.

Action item for Clubs: Schedule and promote a Discover Sailing Day in November! Learn more. When setting up your event in revSPORT, remember to ‘link the event’ to a Discover Sailing Day, to ensure it appears on our website.

Upcoming Training Courses

With many clubs preparing for another busy season of Discover Sailing and training activities, now is an excellent time to encourage new instructors and coaches to become accredited. Becoming an Instructor, Coach or Official is a rewarding way to support your club, develop leadership skills and help introduce more people to our sport.

Here are some of the upcoming courses scheduled. Places are limited, so early registration is recommended.

• Keelboat Instructor Endorsement Course. 22 August. Pacific Sailing School.
• Race Official exam re-sit opportunity. 8 September. Australian Sailing Head Office.
• Sailing Coach Course. 12-13 September. Canberra Yacht Club.
• Dinghy Instructor Course. 26-27 September. BYRA.
• Assistant Dinghy Instructor Course. Sept/Oct. Send expression of interest.
• Dinghy Instructor Course. 30-31 January. RSYS.

Email nsw@sailing.org.au if you can’t find a course you are looking for and would like to express interest. 

Action item for Clubs: Share these training courses with your members, and encourage them to become an Instructor, Coach or Official to support your club. 

Women, Girls and Youth Officials Mentor Program 2026-2027

Australian Sailing has opened Expressions of Interest for the Women, Girls and Youth Officials' Mentor Program for the 2026–2027 season. The program is part of Australian Sailing's Instructor, Coach and Official Development Strategy which recognises that developing people is central to growing a strong officiating community. The program is open to female officials of any age, and officials of any gender who are 35 or under.

Expressions of Interest close on Sunday 24 August. Learn more and apply here

Update your Club Contacts with Australian Sailing

Many clubs have recently held their Annual General Meetings and may have welcomed new committee members, flag officers, directors and key volunteers into leadership positions. I encourage all clubs to review and update their club contact details in their revSPORT account settings to ensure your records remain accurate and up to date.

Maintaining current contact information is important to ensure that Australian Sailing communications, funding opportunities, training information, event updates and governance resources are reaching the appropriate people within your organisation.

Action for Clubs: Review your club's contacts in revSPORT. For guidance on updating your club contacts, please refer to the support article: Updating Club Contacts.

NSW & ACT Sailing Event Calendar

The NSW & ACT Events Calendar is a valuable planning tool for clubs, class associations and event organisers across the region. The calendar has been developed to help club officials identify potential clashes, coordinate major events and gain visibility of sailing activity happening throughout NSW and the ACT. We encourage all clubs and class associations to review the calendar when planning their annual schedules and to submit their upcoming regattas and major club events.

View the calendar: NSW & ACT Sailing Events Calendar

Action item for Clubs: Review your upcoming events and ensure they have been added to the calendar. Email nsw@sailing.org.au if you require access to the calendar.

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.

You can find a fill list of Australian Sailing Contacts – here.