St. Vincent and the Grenadines has taken a significant stride in developing its maritime sports infrastructure by hosting an official World Sailing Race Management Course – Level 1. The three-day intensive program took place from February 20-22 at the SVG Sailing Association Centre of Excellence, located at the Coconut Grove Beach Club.
Fifteen enthusiastic participants from junior sailing clubs across Union Island, Bequia, Mayreau, and St. Vincent gathered to enhance their race management capabilities. The course also welcomed three representatives from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority, who participated to gain practical expertise in preparation for the anticipated 2026 SVG Sailing Week, scheduled for March 29 to April 6.
International sailing experts Becky Ashburn and Jeff Johnson, both renowned Olympic-level race officials from the San Diego Yacht Club, facilitated the training. Ashburn emphasized the critical importance of professional race management, noting: “What stood out here in SVG was the enthusiasm, commitment, and willingness to learn. These participants are building the skills that will allow local clubs and major regattas to be run safely, fairly, and to true international standards.”
The curriculum blended theoretical classroom instruction with hands-on practical learning aligned with World Sailing’s global standards. Participants engaged with core competencies necessary for confidently managing club-level sailing events. Johnson explained the practical focus: “The goal of Level 1 is to teach officials the skills they can immediately use on the water. By the end of the course, participants understand not just the ‘how’, but the ‘why’ behind race management decisions.”
This educational initiative represents part of World Sailing’s comprehensive global pathway designed to cultivate skilled race officials from grassroots to national levels. Participants universally praised the program for its practical applicability and international perspective.
Nancy Saul-Demers from the Mayreau Junior Sailing Club shared: “This course opened my eyes to everything that goes into running a race that reflects World Sailing Association standards. I now feel much more confident in helping deliver regattas that better prepare our young sailors for higher-level competition.”
Aina Browne of the SVG Tourism Authority highlighted the broader implications: “The training equipped local officials with the technical competencies to strengthen sailing events in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and to support the continued growth of our marine tourism sector.”