April 20, 2026
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World Sailing announces 2026 Race Official Education courses
World Sailing is pleased to announce its 2026 Race Official education programme, confirming a global schedule of seminars, clinics and national race officer training programme courses designed to support the development of race officials from entry level to international level.
Race Official Seminars now open for application
These advanced courses are aimed at officials who hold national-level certification or have significant experience officiating at national level. The seminars form a key part of the development pathway for those aspiring to achieve international status, with attendance at a World Sailing International Seminar a requirement for applying for international status.
International Judges Seminars
- Enoshima, Fujisawa, Japan — 10–12 July 2026
- Neusiedl am See, Austria — 18–20 September 2026
- Macatawa, Michigan, USA — 25–27 September 2026
Race Management Seminars
- Hyderabad, India — 7–9 July 2026
- Melbourne, Australia — 4–6 September 2026
- Istanbul, Türkiye — 30 October–1 November 2026
International Measurer Seminars
- Buenos Aires, Argentina — 17–20 September 2026 (Clinic/Seminar)
- Porto, Portugal — 2–4 October 2026
Due to high demand, all interested officials must register through the application process to be considered. Applications will be reviewed, and final attendee lists confirmed shortly after the deadline.
The deadline to register interest is 11 May 2026.
To apply to attend a seminar or for further information about each seminar, please visit the World Sailing website.
Expanding global capacity through National Level Education
As part of its commitment to developing race officials worldwide, World Sailing will continue to deliver Judging, Umpiring and Measurement Clinics alongside the National Race Officer Training Programme (NROTP) in 2026.
These courses are primarily aimed at Member National Authorities (MNAs) seeking to expand volunteer participation and strengthen national-level officiating capacity by providing structured introductory education.
While the focus is on national development, a limited number of places may be available to international participants from neighbouring regions.
If you have interest in attending a clinic or NROTP being hosted outside your MNA to contact World Sailing at raceofficials@sailing.org for further information.
The announcement of the 2026 education programme follows a highly successful 2025 calendar, with World Sailing delivering 32 courses across all continents, reaching more than 300 participants worldwide. Building on this momentum, the 2026 programme aims to expand both reach and impact, offering increased opportunities for participants across a wider range of countries.
Fiona Kidd, World Sailing’s Head of International Development, said, “The success of our 2025 education programme demonstrated the global demand for high-quality training and development for officiating. In 2026, we are focused on expanding that reach even further, ensuring more volunteers and officials have access to education opportunities to develop their officiating knowledge and skills wherever they are in the world.”
2026 Race Official Clinics Schedule
| Location | Discipline | Language | Dates |
| São Paulo, Brazil | Umpires | Spanish | 15–17 May |
| Kingstown, St Vincent & the Grenadines | Judges | English | 27–28 August |
| La Paz, Bolivia | Judges | Spanish | 5–6 September |
| Jubail, Saudi Arabia | Judges | English | 15–16 September |
| Algiers, Algeria | Judges | French | 24–25 October |
| Bogotá, Colombia | Measurers | Spanish | 31 October – 1 November |
2026 National Race Officer Training Programme*
| Location | Language | Dates |
| Level 1 | ||
| Naiguata, Venezuela | Spanish | 27–28 May |
| Lima, Peru | Spanish | 4–5 July |
| San Barnardino, Paraguay | Spanish | 11–12 July |
| Suva, Fiji | English | 22–23 August |
| Mount Pleasant, Trinidad and Tobago | English | 5–6 September |
| Level 2 | ||
| Algiers, Algeria | French | 22–24 May |
| Lima, Peru | Spanish | 17–19 July |
| Mussanah, Oman | English | 15–17 November |
| Langkawi, Malaysia | English | 11–13 December |
*additional courses in Angola, Belize, Egypt and the Solomon Islands are scheduled with dates to be finalised.