Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts Leaderboard 2024 4

Chris Watters of Nova Scotia named Sail Canada Coach of the Year

by Sail Canada 17 Sep 11:33 PDT
Chris Watters of Nova Scotia named Sail Canada Coach of the Year © Sail Canada

Sail Canada announced today that Chris Watters of Boutiliers Point, N.S, has been selected Sail Canada Coach of the Year for 2023 as the country celebrates National Coaches Week, an annual event which ends this Sunday.

The Sail Canada Coach of the Year Award is presented annually to a coach who demonstrates high coaching skills and contributes to sporting excellence by offering a healthy attitude towards winning and enjoying the sport, in addition to having shown effectiveness in training. The winners are Sail Canada certified and registered coaches who demonstrate and have made a significant impact on athletes' performances at competitions, and who reinforce the spirit of sport values to her/his athletes, measured by a respect for the game, a love for sport, a respect for others and a commitment to fair and ethical sport.

Nominations have been evaluated based on a time period ranging from January 1 to December 31, 2023.

"To receive the Coach of The Year award from Sail Canada is truly an honour and makes me happy and grateful," said Chris Watters. "The hard work and dedication of the athletes I have worked with have inspired me to think creatively, push boundaries, and continue to listen and learn. I am also proud to have the unwavering support of my family and friends and will celebrate winning this award with them."

Chris Watters is a CANSail 5/6 and Competition-Development certified coach.

In 2022, he created a startup team, "East Coast ILCA", for High Performance ILCA sailors from across Eastern Canada, as well as from the USA, to have them participate in various regattas and clinics across North America. In 2023, he had Sail Canada, the Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic and Sail Nova Scotia all come in as partners for a High-Performance single-handed team.

Amongst the athletes he coached in 2023:

  • Sullivan Nakatsu was the top North American male sailor at the 2023 ILCA 6 Youth World Championships and was first in ILCA 6 at the Sail Canada Youth Championships, at CORK International and at the Youth World Championships Qualifier;

  • Lilly Rainham was the top Canadian female sailor at the 2023 ILCA 6 Youth World Championships and the second female youth sailor in ILCA 6 at the Sail Canada Youth Championships, at CORK International at the Youth World Championships Qualifier;

  • Roughly 50% of the sailors at the Canadian Sailing Youth Squad selection trials were from the National Training Centre East;

Chris Watters, who himself also sails in Melges 24 and J70, also previously coached Sail Canada Development Squad member Ryan Anderson.

From the nomination form: "Chris Watters is an extraordinary coach and an exceptional role model both on and off the water. He focuses on developing each sailors' individual abilities within a team atmosphere and does everything that he can to determine what is needed for each sailor to meet their potential. His coaching is guided by positivity, competitiveness, and the love of sport. What is most refreshing is Chris' value for integrity. His sailors have been known to do their spins at regattas even when they know that the jury did not witness the penalty. This behaviour is a direct result of Chris' coaching, as he always stresses honesty over placement."

More information about the Sail Canada Coach of the Year Award is available here.

Related Articles

Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
16 Canadians were inducted on Saturday, October 5th The Royal Vancouver Yacht Club hosted the 2024 Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, October 5th. Posted on 8 Oct
2023 Shark World Championships win two awards
Receiving accolade of Sail Canada City of Kingston Regatta of the Year Sail Canada announced today that the 2023 Shark World Championships received the Sail Canada City of Kingston Regatta of the Year as well as the Chisholm Trophy for Excellence in Race Management awards for 2023. Posted on 30 Sep
G. Sicotte Hamilton passes away
The Sail Canada Past President was 91 It is with great sadness that Sail Canada shares with the Canadian sailing community the passing of Past President G. Sicotte Hamilton in Collingwood, ON, on September 17, 2024, at the age of 91. Posted on 21 Sep
Sail Canada 2023 Instructor of the Year announced
Adrien Bernier Nadeau named during National Coaches Week Sail Canada announced today that Adrien Bernier Nadeau of Baie-des-Chaleurs, Quebec, has been selected Sail Canada 2023 Instructor of the Year, presented by Checklick, as the country celebrates National Coaches Week. Posted on 19 Sep
Sail Canada's High Performance Director departs
Mike Milner was a significant contributor to the successes of the Canadian Sailing Team Sail Canada announced today that Mike Milner will be moving on from the organization. Posted on 13 Sep
Luke Ruitenberg announces his retirement
Sail Canada's ILCA 7 Development Squad Member Sail Canada Development Squad Member in ILCA 7 Luke Ruitenberg from St. Margaret's Bay, N.S., announced his retirement from competition. Posted on 10 Sep
2024 Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame new inductees
Steve Tupper and Pat Healy will join the list of 2024 inductees The Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame, Sail Canada and the Great Lakes Museum are pleased to announce that the class of 2024 will include two additional members, Pat Healy and Steve Tupper, to be inducted into the Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame. Posted on 29 Aug
Sail Canada 49er / 49erFX Championships Preview
Being held alongside the 29er Canadian Championship Close to 30 sailors will be in action this weekend, August 16-18, in Kingston, during the Sail Canada 2024 49er and 49erFX Senior Championships. Posted on 13 Aug
Sarah Douglas takes 8th position overall
In the ILCA 6 Women's Dinghy at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Sarah Douglas from Toronto took the 8th position overall in ILCA 6 at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games following the last race of the event, the Medal Race, which was held Wednesday and where she took the third spot. Posted on 7 Aug
Sarah Douglas qualifies for the ILCA 6 Medal Race
The Medal Race is scheduled for Tuesday at 2:43pm (ET) Sarah Douglas from Toronto qualified for the ILCA 6 Medal Race at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after finishing the qualification phase in 10th position. Posted on 5 Aug
Armstrong 728x90 - MA Foil Range - BOTTOMPredictWind - Wave Routing 728x90 BOTTOMTrinidad and Tobago - Sail Service Stay