How Philippine Sailing is levelling up its next generation of coaches

Organised by the Philippine Sailing Association Inc. (PSAI) under the I PHIL-SAILing Program and supported by the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity funding, World Sailing and the Philippine Olympic Committee, the intensive week-long course served as a major step forward for maritime sports development in the Philippines.

Precision on the water, strategy in the classroom

Led by World Sailing Course Developer Tayfun Erey, the programme was designed to elevate coaching competencies from basic instruction to high-level race tactics, athlete safety, and strategic planning.

Participants represented a broad cross-section of the country’s maritime sporting community, including coaches from the Philippine National Sailing Team alongside representatives from Balangay Sailing Club, Puerto Galera Yacht Club, Taal Lake Yacht Club, and Subic Sailing Club.

The course was designed to strengthen coaching competencies and further develop the pathway for sailing instructors and coaches in the country under the theme of: “Develop the Coach. Inspire the Sailor.”

The seven-day intensive curriculum balanced rigorous theory with hands-on application which included safety and rescue proficiency, athlete-centred coaching and race management with a focus on navigating Notice of Race (NOR) and Sailing Instructions (SI) frameworks.

Put to the test: The Final Regatta

The course culminated with participants hitting the water to apply their learnings in two competitive evaluation races.

• Race 1: A standard windward-leeward course testing fundamental tactical positioning.

• Race 2: A complex modified course requiring a windward mark rounding, a pass around the pin end, a return to the leeward mark, and a reverse finish sequence.

The event concluded with a visit from Martin Tanco, President of the PSAI, who joined the coaches to discuss the continued growth and development of sailing across the country, which includes a short-, medium- and long-term plan for the next 10 years.

Preparing for International Glory at the SEA Games and Asian Games

The successful completion of the Level 2 course marks a pivotal moment in empowering local coaches to lead Filipino sailors onto the global stage. Coaches who completed the World Sailing Technical Course for Coaches Level 2 can now apply the knowledge and skills gained from the course, particularly in the areas of athlete observation, performance evaluation, training session planning, feedback delivery, and continuous athlete development.

To improve international competitiveness and prepare national athletes for upcoming competitions like the SEA Games and Asian Games, the PSAI plans to implement a monthly centralised training schedule.

The program features seven-day intensive camps in locations that closely match the wind, sea state, currents, temperature, and weather conditions of upcoming SEA Games and Asian Games venues by utilising Subic Bay’s strong sea breezes, Puerto Galera’s thermal winds, and Taal Lake’s shifting inland breezes to ensure versatile athlete adaptation.

The successful completion of the World Sailing Technical Course for Coaches Level 2 represents another significant milestone in the development of sailing coaches and instructors in the Philippines. Through a balanced combination of theoretical instruction, practical application, and collaborative learning, participants acquired the competencies necessary to support the next generation of Filipino sailors.

More information about the range of Technical Courses available from World Sailing is available on the World Sailing website.