NETWORK
Race Officials Programmes
Your sport needs you! Join the Race Officials Programmes and experience the opportunities we have to offer.
RYA Race Official Academy has given me opportunities I would never have had otherwise. The academy has pushed myself and others towards developing our own race management qualifications and celebrating them as a group.
Race Officials Academy
The Race Officials Academy is an exclusive training programme to those aged 21 - 35. Through structured training, we provide you the opportunity to fast track through RYA Race Official qualifications, meaning you will gain all the tools needed to achieve National qualification in the space of 3 to 4 years.
Prioritising the importance of fun, we aspire to deliver a supportive network through peer group mentoring, along with a social atmosphere on and off the water.
Networking with the existing members of the Academy also provides great opportunity for sharing and support, as they are incredibly keen in welcoming others to the programme (and the WhatsApp group)!
Every journey through the academy is unique. Whether you are an active sailor or a keen Race Official, the opportunities we offer will help you personally focus and excel along your desired path.
As part of the Race Officials Academy, your first year will involve attending training courses in all five disciplines at regional level – judging, umpiring, race officer, mark laying and sail measurement. Already hold a regional qualification? Not to worry, instead you will be able to attend our national level courses for these disciplines.
Once you have attended these courses, the choice is yours. Choose which discipline excites you and takes your interest, then follow that path to reach your potential.
Relevant courses will be offered to you continuing through the four years you will be at the Academy. The Academy offers mentors to personally support your progression. They aim to assist and support you on your unique journey, helping you draw up your training plan to achieve your goals.
The Women’s Race Officials Programme, a brand-new initiative designed to give women the skills, confidence, and experience to step up onto the international stage of race officiating.
Currently female officials are underrepresented at top-level events around the globe with women currently making up 16% of those internationally qualified. The programme aims to play a vital part in tackling this, ensuring that as we look to the future, more women are supported in reaching the highest levels of the sport.
Part of the RYA’s Racing Strategy, the programme will combine technical training, personal development, and practical experience. Participants will be supported by mentors, take part in monthly sessions, and gain exposure through RYA supported programmes and events, all helping them build towards international recognition.
THE NEXT INTAKE WILL BE IN 2026.
Race Officials Women's Programme
Race Officials Women’s Programme, a brand-new initiative designed to give women the skills, confidence, and experience to step up onto the international stage of race officiating.
Currently female officials are underrepresented at top-level events around the globe with women currently making up 16% of those internationally qualified. The programme aims to play a vital part in tackling this, ensuring that as we look to the future, more women are supported in reaching the highest levels of the sport.
Part of the RYA’s Racing Strategy, the programme will combine technical training, personal development, and practical experience. Participants will be supported by mentors, take part in monthly sessions, and gain exposure through RYA supported programmes and events, all helping them build towards international recognition.
“This is about more than qualifications — it’s about changing the face of officiating. By opening doors and building confidence, we hope to inspire more women to believe this can be a path for them.”
The initiative is open to women who already hold an RYA Race Officials qualification and are ready to take the next step towards international status in their chosen discipline. New intakes will run every two years, alternating with the RYA Existing Race Officials Academy, and each participant’s progress will be reviewed annually, with a maximum term of four years.
While completion of the programme does not automatically guarantee international credentials, graduates will leave with the tools, experience, and network required to take that step with confidence.
THE NEXT INTAKE WILL BE IN 2027.
