Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Test Event, Marseille, France. Day 8 Race Day on 16th July 2023.

World Sailing’s Steering the Course 2024 celebrates Olympic role models

The fourth edition of Steering the Course, World Sailing’s global women’s sailing festival, will take on a special focus in this Olympic year by focusing on the pathway many of the sport’s role models have taken to the Olympic Games, whether in coaching, officiating or sports administration.

The two festivals will take place across the following dates:

  • Festival 1 – Friday 17 – Sunday 26 May 2024
  • Festival 2 – Friday 27 September – Sunday 6 October 2024

With Gender Equality Month under way and International Women’s Day just around the corner, Member National Authorities (MNAs), sailing clubs, Class Associations and volunteers are encouraged to organise even more taster sessions, Learn to Sail courses for female sailors of all ages, Women’s Race Days, inspirational talks from female role models in the sport, and a special eSailing Challenge, among other activities.

Events can be added to the 2024 calendar by registering them online here.

Shortly, World Sailing will release the 2024 Festival guide with more information on suggested events you can host, how to engage with World Sailing on social media during the festivals and information on support for marketing.

Fiona Kidd, World Sailing’s Head of International Development, said, “The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be the first to achieve gender parity in terms of the numbers of male and female athletes, and two of the three chief roles in sailing this summer will be held by female officials. As the sport continues to grow and become more popular and diverse, we are keen to show the possibilities available for women.

“Olympic sailing has provided a number of brilliant female role models – on and off the water – and, whether taking the first step within the sport or building on past experience, Steering the Course aims to encourage more women into sailing and provide opportunities to get the qualifications needed to grow the sport and advance sailing around the world.”

You can find out more about this year’s Steering the Course here.