World Sailing Training Scholarship

What is the Training Scholarship?

The World Sailing Training Scholarship is a seven-week residential programme, designed to develop the skills of practicing coaches or those individuals already working in a training manager capacity.

This intensive course is designed to up skill participants in a variety of different areas in order for them to be able to lead the development of a National Training Programme and train the next cohort of instructors and coaches within their National Federation.

Participants experience all variety of sailing disciplines including Kiteboarding, Windsurfing, Dinghy, Multihull and Keelboats. Participants also hone their practical skills in Power boat handling and safety. Project management is a key feature of the course, allowing the participants to develop the skills required to maintain such a programme within the unique sailing ‘landscape’ of their home nations.

The scholarship creates a great network of training individuals from across the world who share their own experiences and best practises to guide what will work best in their nation.

“ The Programme was amazing, absolutely amazing. Meeting people from other regions in different sailing conditions, traditions, social, economic, political influences, opened my eyes to a wider scenario. ”

How is the Scholarship funded?

The scholarship can be funded in one of two ways:

  • Olympic Solidarity Funding – Olympic Solidarity may support funding for applications from MNA candidates through its Sport-Specific Coach Scholarship Option. Those nations wishing to apply for Olympic Solidarity funding must first contact their National Olympic Committee (NOC) to request the appropriate application forms and then work with World Sailing to complete the process. For more information on Olympic Solidarity funding click here
  • Private Funding – It is possible for an MNA or private sponsor to fund a participant’s attendance on the course. This funding would need to cover all course costs, boarding and travel to the course. Speak to World Sailing for more information on this option.

Previous Scholarship Attendees:

Samuel Gonçalves from Brazil is a graduate of the 2019 course. Upon his return to Brazil Samuel has launched the Brazilian Sailing academy, of which he is the manager, the academy runs training and workshop for sailors and coaches throughout Brazil. The aim of the Academy is not only to share knowledge, but also to create networking. Through online meetings, the participants could engage conversations with directors, club officers, coaches, instructors and sailors. In 2021, Samuel was also selected to join the World Sailing Development and Regions committee, a committee whose purpose is to guide the development decision of World Sailing.

Raema von Reiche attended the 2017 scholarship from Samoa. As president of the Samoan Sailing Federation, Raema has carried out numerous initiatives to support the development of sailing. These include running race officials courses and a Para Sailing Development Program in the lead up to the Pacific games in 2019, all whilst being the head coach for performance sailing too.

Essam Elwy from Egypt attended the scholarship in 2017. Now in in his role as technical manager of national teams, he has seen two sailors qualify and race at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games. Not only this but Essam has also gained sponsors for the national programme and built a solid youth pathway programme through to the senior squads.

Sylvester Thomas (ANT) attended the 2019 scholarship. Sylvester had an extensive background in Learn to Sail Programme and was keen to hone his skills to set up an Antigua National Training Syllabus. Sylvester is now the Sailing Manager at the National Sailing Academy and manages the Water Sports Centre and team at the academy.