Wāhine Open Day – Steering the Course
Saturday 3rd October 2026 – 13:00 – 15:00
This event is open to all women and girls within the club, and is a great chance to develop camaraderie, communication, and support networks within the club, and have a great time. We’d love to encourage all women and girls to come along. It could be that your son/daughter is involved with sailing school activities, and you’ve never been on the water yourself, it could be that you’re a regular at Saturday afternoon club racing, or you might be part of Foiling Fridays… come along and get to know other women & girls at the club.
Have-A-Go
It is also a chance for local wāhine to have a go at, or find out about, sailing, windsurfing or wingfoiling at the club. So, if you know someone who might be interested, forward them this email or let them know how to get involved!
Plans are, of course, a bit weather dependant. So far include:
- Fusion / 420 / RS Quest joyrides with an experienced skipper
- Wingfoiling Expo
- We’ll have lots of information on how to get involved if you’re not already
- Refreshments available
Courses
There has never been a better time for women and girls in sailing at Nelson Yacht Club.
Look out for our Wāhine on Water training, sailing and have a go activities during the season.
- Wāhine Mondays – a female focussed evening
- 6 weeks from 2nd November 2026 – 7th December 2026
- Beginner Sailing
- Improver Sailing
- Wāhine Windsurfers – Mixed ability
- Book here – Adult Programmes
- Wāhine on Water Open Day
- Saturday 3rd October 2026 – “Steering the Course”. Part of World Sailing’s Women’s Sailing Programme
Wāhine on Water encompasses a range of club activities designed to introduce new sailors to the sport, improve their skills and to shape a pathway for Women in Sailing with strategy support from Yachting New Zealand. https://www.yachtingnz.org.nz/clubs/women-and-girls-sailing
Modern sailing dinghy and windsurfing design and equipment is more suitable to body weights of women and girls of all ages, and new sports like wingfoiling are very accessible and attractive with a breadth of equipment available. Sailors can easily transition between classes of boat as they grow and develop skills.
Female instructors and coaches, and female representation on the sailing and administration committees support a growing depth of talent among women in sailing and decision making at the club.
As well as providing pathways and support for competitive sailing, Wāhine on Water opens pathways to coaching, career opportunities and volunteer roles.
Nelson Bays Team Sailing provides secondary school students in the region with the opportunity to sail and enhance their skills in a teams racing environment. https://www.nbteamsailing.org.nz/
Contact us for a chat on how you can get involved as a sailor, volunteer, supporter or sponsor – wahine@nelsonyachtclub.org.nz