Coaching coordinator returns to kick start the season

Coaching Coordinator Wilbur Stanley is fizzing to lead this season's coaching programme after a global coaching and sailing sabatical.

This year’s been all about one thing for me: taking the opportunities that come your way. It all kicked off back at the NZ Open Match Racing Nationals earlier this year, and it’s been non-stop since.

After a few years off the water during; COVID and a gap year in Europe, I found myself overseas thinking, “I’ve got to get back into sailing.” The 2024/2025 season became the year I said yes to every opportunity I could. And honestly, it’s been one of the most exciting seasons of my life.

It started with a foot in the door getting the chance to sail in the NZ Open Match Racing Nationals. We didn’t win, but it wasn’t about that. It was the catalyst, the spark that led to everything else. From that one event, I got invited to race in the Helly Hansen Grade 2 Match Racing Regatta in Sydney with the Canadian team led by Alec Coleman. We were sailing right on the Sydney waterfront against some of the best under-25 match racers in the world. Incredible boats, incredible people just a wild, fun, and challenging experience.

That led straight into the Warren Jones International Youth Regatta in Perth, racing on Foundation 36s, the biggest boats I’ve ever match raced. It's one of the most prestigious youth match racing events in the world, and being part of that was honestly surreal.

But it didn’t stop there. From those events, I got two incredible invites to World Championships. First, the Lightning Worlds in Athens, Greece, sailing with two-time Olympian Luke Ramsay and Alec again. It was 30 degrees and 30 knots every day. We were racing some of the best in the world, like Augie Diaz, and doing it in a boat we had to work hard to make race-ready. Long hours in the boatyard, high-level racing, and one of the most special locations I’ve ever sailed.

Then I got to race at the Youth Match Racing Worlds in Gdynia, Poland, racing RS21s against the top youth match racers from across the globe. It was social, fun, and competitive all at once racing against people I grew up competing with, now at the world level.

And it hasn’t just been sailing. I've also had the chance to coach internationally at Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, learning from some of the best coaches in the world, helping the next generation, and getting to share the joy of sailing in a totally different way.

Now I’m back in Wellington, and I’m looking forward to the season ahead, working with our junior and youth squads at Worser Bay and seeing where we can take it together.

Let’s go get it.

Early Season Kick Start Clinic

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Dates for the Calendar

 

Pre-season

Tuesday 30th September 5.30pm-6.30pm: Coaches - pre season meet at the club to run through the plan

Saturday 4th – Sunday 5th October 9.00am-3.30pm (both days): Sailors - pre-season Kick Start Clinic, register on website. Only $80 for 2 whole days of skills building!

Saturday 4th October 3.30pm: Parent/Sailor/Coach - session to explain the coaching season

Term 4 2025 (Pre-Christmas Block)

Saturday Sailing – Optimist Squad / Blue Fleet (Mornings) 9am -12pm midday

First Day: 11th October

Last Day: 20th December

Every Saturday Morning

Tuesday Race Squad Coaching 4pm - 7pm

(Starlings / Optis (Green & Open) / Laser Radials)

First Day: 7th October

Last Day: 16th December

Every Tuesday Afternoon

Thursday self-driven training 4pm - 7pm

Get out and practice what you learnt on Tuesday with support boat on the water

First Day: 9th October

Last Day: 18th December

Every Thursday Afternoon

Mid-season

Saturday 7th – Sunday 8th February 9.00am-3.30pm (both days): mid-season Ramp It Up Clinic.

Term 1 2026 (Post-Christmas Block)

Saturday Sailing – Optimist Squad / Blue Fleet (Mornings) 9am -12pm midday

First Day: 31st January

Last Day: 4th April

Every Saturday Morning

Tuesday Race Squad Coaching 4pm - 7pm

(Starlings / Optis (Green & Open) / Laser Radials)

First Day: 27th January

Last Day: 31st March

Every Tuesday Afternoon

Thursday self-driven training 4pm - 7pm

Get out and practice what you learnt on Tuesday with support boat on the water

First Day: 29th January

Last Day: 2nd April

Every Thursday Afternoon