World Sailing launches the World Sailing Academy
by World Sailing 17 Jun 10:13 PDT
Youth Sailing World Championships © World Sailing
World Sailing has officially launched the World Sailing Academy, an innovative new online learning platform designed to provide comprehensive educational resources and training to sailors, coaches, officials, administrators, and the entire global sailing community.
This initiative marks a significant step forward in growing the sport in alignment with World Sailing's strategy, Ready for the Future - 2025-2029 by developing digital platforms to enable global delivery of education and training.
Fiona Kidd, World Sailing's Head of International Development, said, "The launch of the World Sailing Academy is a pivotal moment for our sport. The platform embodies our commitment to global growth and inclusivity, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their location, can enhance their knowledge, skills, and contribute to the advancement of sailing.
"The World Sailing Academy delivers flexible and accessible education, allowing users to learn at their own pace, any time, and anywhere. It will be particularly vital for athletes and officials from developing sailing nations, offering them unprecedented access to high-quality training courses and resources while empowering our entire community and preparing them for the future of our sport."
Among the first courses to be offered by the World Sailing Academy is the National Race Officer Training Programme, which has been specifically developed for Member National Authorities (MNAs) that do not have their own established programmes. This programme includes an online Fundamentals of Race Management course, a prerequisite for the new Level 1 club/national training course, making race management education accessible to anyone interested. Furthermore, Level 1 and Level 2 Race Officer Assessments will now be conducted online, streamlining the certification process.
The World Sailing Academy will also feature a new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion course, offering learners from all areas of the sport, the opportunity to enhance their knowledge in the area and help their organisation become more welcoming, inclusive and accessible.
Ensuring the safety and well-being of participants, completing the online Safeguarding in Sport course is recommended for all sailors, coaches, volunteers, and event organisers participating in World Sailing events, including prestigious competitions such as the Youth Sailing World Championship and/or the World Sailing Championship.
Key features of the World Sailing Academy include:
- Self-paced learning designed to accommodate diverse schedules and time zones.
- Certification programmes to formally recognise achievement and support professional development.
- Mobile-friendly access for convenient learning on the go.
- Comprehensive resource hubs offering valuable tools and materials for ongoing growth, covering critical areas such as Coaching, Race Officiating, Women in Sailing, Para Inclusive Sailing, Anti-Doping, Safeguarding, and a library of webinars.
Looking ahead, the World Sailing Academy will evolve over the coming months with new courses and content being added and updated regularly.
Additional learning pathways will be introduced to support Race Officials, Environmental Sustainability, and Youth Development, with content tailored to both emerging sailing nations and experienced Member National Authorities.
The Academy will also play a role in the delivery of World Sailing Technical Courses for Coaches, by offering modules online before the course begins. This new hybrid delivery will enhance the course delivery and focus the in-person education and training sessions.
In addition, the World Sailing Academy will continue to expand its offering with new courses currently in development across key areas of the sport. These include dedicated modules on Inclusive Coaching, Para Classification Fundamentals, pre-Technical Coaching Course requirements and Event Accessibility Planning - all aimed at strengthening capacity and building confidence across the global sailing community.
As the platform is developed, World Sailing is committed to working with the community and experts across the sport to ensure the Academy remains relevant, responsive, and inclusive.
Registration for the World Sailing Academy is simple and open to anyone involved in sailing - whether an athlete, coach, race official, or part of the wider sailing community.
To learn more about the World Sailing Academy and to start learning, please visit the World Sailing website.