The latest updates from Australian Sailing NSW/ACT General Manager - Niall Powers

Read all previous General Manager updates here.

General Update

Welcome to the first 2026 update from the NSW & ACT Club Support team. In this update we have key dates for Australian Sailing events to add to your calendar, as well as some updates on programs and opportunities for clubs.  

December and January has been a very busy period for many clubs and class associations with significant events being hosted. Thank you to the officials and representatives of clubs and class associations who dedicate tireless hours of work to deliver vibrant, fair and enjoyable events for sailors. You can read about some of the events taking place via the news page on our website: News - Australian Sailing

Key dates for 2026

• NSW Sailing Summit: Saturday 23 May at Cruising Yacht Club of Australia 
• ACT Sailing Summit: Saturday 27 June at YMCA of Canberra Sailing Club 
• Training in Focus – LIVE: Sunday 14 June at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club 
• NSW & ACT Sailing Awards: Saturday 19 September 
• Zhik Youth Sail NSW: Wednesday 30 September to Monday 5 October at Toronto Amateur Sailing Club 
• Sail Sydney: to be announced 

ACTION ITEM FOR CLUBS: Share these event dates with your Board, Committee members and staff!

Sailing Summits

It won’t be long until our Sailing Summits are back! These events are a great opportunity for clubs and classes to collaborate and share ideas, and to 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. 

All club and class association flag officers, key officials, management and staff are encouraged to attend. Registration is now available, and the full agenda will be released in the coming weeks.  

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

Australian Sailing launches ‘SailLAB’ STEM Program 

Australian Sailing has officially launched SailLAB, an exciting new free STEM education program designed to bring the science and innovation of sailing directly into Australian classrooms. SailLAB has been created by teachers and is fully aligned with the Australian Curriculum. The program was successfully piloted across 2024-25 in nine Western Australian schools, engaging more than 400 students from Years 5-12.  

SailLAB offers:  

• Six Primary Modules and ten Secondary Modules, covering wind, forces, design engineering, oceanography, meteorology and more 
• Engaging student workbooks, PowerPoint presentations, teacher guides, assessments and completion certificates 
• Module challenges that follow the STEM Learning Cycle, where students question, imagine, plan, create, test, improve, re-test and analyse 
• Inspiring module introduction videos featuring Australian Olympic and America’s Cup athletes  
• A major America’s Cup-themed design challenge  
• Strong links to real-world STEM and marine-industry careers 

To complement classroom learning, SailLAB Experience Days will be delivered via local sailing clubs, giving students hands-on sailing and STEM activities, whether on the water or with radio-control boats in pools, lakes or community facilities.  

Visit the SailLAB page on our website for more information on the program or to complete an Expression of Interest for your school today.  

Whitworths Tackers Boat Program Applications Open 

Australian Sailing is excited to announce applications for the Whitworths Tackers Boat Program are open once again. The Whitworths Tackers initiative has long supported Discover Sailing Centres (DSCs) in being able to deliver Tackers programs and grow participation in sailing by financially assisting DSCs to buy ‘Tackers’ boats thanks to the Whitworths and Ozi Opti partnership.  

Through the program, Whitworths will sponsor 50% of the purchase price of the Tackers boats after Ozi Opti have granted a 7.5% discount from their listed RRP.  

View the criteria and application information > 

Training Courses 

Looking for an Instructor, Coach or Officials course in 2026? We have several new courses now taking enrolments. Please note that demand for training courses is high and spaces are limited – we recommend registering early to avoid missing out.  

Instructor & Coach courses coming up: 

• Dinghy Instructor & Assistant Dinghy– 14 & 15 March 2026 at Woollahra SC 
• Sailing Couch – 21 & 22 March at Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron 
• Foil Lab Coach – 7 February at Woollahra SC 

Register for an Instructor or Coach course > 

ENDORSEMENT COURSES – Are you already qualified as an Instructor, but would like to be accredited in another discipline (Dinghy, Keelboat, Powerboat, Windsurf)? Rather than completing another two-day Instructor course, Australian Sailing now offers one-day ‘Endorsement’ courses for Instructors with existing qualifications. Email nsw@sailing.org.au to express your interest in Instructing another program.   

OFFICIALS COURSES – we are taking expressions of interest from clubs and participants who are interested in joining a Race Officer, Measurer, Judge or Umpire course in 2026. Please email nsw@sailing.org.au. Learn more about Officiating here > 

ACTION ITEM FOR CLUBS: Share the benefits of accreditation with your members to encourage more people to volunteer or work at your club! 

NSW & ACT Events Calendar 

February and March are busy months on the sailing calendar! There are too many to list all of them here, but you can view all upcoming Club and Class sailing events on the NSW and ACT webpages.  

• Australian ILCA Masters Championship / Sat 7 to Tue 10 Feb / Bay Sailing Centre 
• Pittwater Regatta & NSW ORC Championship / Fri 13 to Sun 15 Feb / RPAYC 
• Adams 10 Australian Championship / Fri 20 to Sun 22 Feb / LMYC 
• ACT Team Racing Championship / Sat 21 to Sun 22 Feb / YMCA SC 
• Trans-Tasman Yacht Race / 27 Feb to 1 March / CYCA 
• KPMG Sydney SailGP / Sat 28 Feb to Sun 1 Mar / Sydney – Note exclusion zones apply 
• JJG Worlds Championship (18ft Skiffs) / Fri 6 to Sun 15 March / 18footers League 
• Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race / Fri 27 to Sun 29 March / RPAYC & CHYC 
• SailFest - Newcastle Regatta / Sat 28 to Sun 29 March / NCYC 

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.