Winter Programme
The Winter Programme is run during the second and third terms of the secondary school year and is targeted at youth learning the basics of keel boat handling, team work, and water safety. For those that are interested, the opportunity to have the skills they learn accredited towards their NCEA qualifications can be arranged through their respective schools academic programme.
Secondary Schools Programme
The Secondary Schools Programme builds on the skills learnt in the Winter Programme along with “Learn to Sail” dinghy programmes run by the schools in the Wellington Region. The programme focuses on more advanced boat handling and water safety skills along with continuing to develop strengths in leadership and team work. Each year the Secondary Schools Programme culminates in the Wellington College Sport – Secondary Schools Match Racing Championships. This multi-day match racing regatta enables the crews to put their newly acquired team work and sailing skills into practice to crown the region’s College Sport Match Racing Champions for the annual College Sports Awards.
Regional Match Racing Clinics
Each July school holidays for the past 6 years, WYST has run Regional Match Racing Clinics for 8 teams (32 sailors) from around the country. The clinics have involved sailors from New Plymouth Yacht Club, Napier Sailing Club, Queen Charlotte Yacht Club, Wairoa Yacht Club and Naval Point Yacht Club. The regional programme provides an opportunity for sailors from some of the smaller provinces/sailing regions to improve their sailing skills using the Scheme’s Elliot 6m yachts and get a taste of the Match Racing form of sailing. The clinics focus on building team work, boat handling and communication skills among the crews. These skills are ultimately tested on the final day where the sailors have an opportunity to race in a 1 day match racing regatta. In addition to a focus on sailing, the programme provides an opportunity for youth from outside of the Wellington Region to develop other life skills while spending time away from home in a safe but challenging environment.
Under 23 Programme
The Under 23 Programme is directed towards the more experienced youth sailors who typically have been through their own dinghy clubs sailing programmes, the Winter Programme, and the Secondary Schools Programme. The Programme attracts talented sailors not only from the Wellington Region, but also from around New Zealand, with students attending tertiary education in Wellington (University/Polytech, etc), participating in the programme. The focus is at a much higher skill level across all areas of youth development, health, fitness, goal setting and safety.