Sailing Pathways

The Sailing Pathway – 10 Steps

Like many sports, sailing offers a pathway for new participants to use as their guide to build experience, skills, and confidence. 

The Sailing Pathway has 10 steps and is applicable to participants of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities, in different types of boats and boards. 

The first few steps introduce new participants to the sport, the intermediate steps are for people who want to race at their club and achieve results locally, and beyond that there are a range of further options including high performance and international competition. 

The Introductory Levels

Step 0 – Discover Sailing Day or Discover Sailing Experience 

Discover Sailing Days and Discover Sailing Experiences provide the perfect introduction to sailing if  never sailed before, offering participants the opportunity to get out on the water to try the sport and visit a club. 

Step 1 – Discover Sailing courses  

Step 1 of The Sailing Pathway is the Australian Sailing Learn to Sail programs available for adults, teenagers and children in dinghies, keelboats, and boards. The courses involve a syllabus that is delivered by Australian Sailing Qualified Instructors. Courses are offered at accredited Discover Sailing Centres. 

Step 2 – Discover Sailing courses 

The courses at Step 2 of The Sailing Pathway also follow a syllabus and progressively builds skills and knowledge acquired throughout previous courses. Courses are run by Australian Sailing Qualified Instructors at accredited Discover Sailing Centres. 

Step 3 – Discover Sailing courses 

Step 3 of the Sailing Pathway includes the final levels of the Learn to Sail Programs, the courses, run by Australian Sailing Qualified Instructors at accredited Discover Sailing Centres, consolidate everything that has been learnt throughout steps 1 and 2 and prepares participants for developing their independence afloat. 

Develop Independence & Confidence

Step 4 – Green fleet 

Step 4 builds participant confidence and independence. From learn-to-sail programs, Green Fleet is a program delivered by Australian Sailing accredited Coaches and promotes practicing the fundamental skills of sailing which have been developed throughout steps 1 to 3 and introduces foundation race skills in an environment that is enjoyable, without a competition focus. The Green Fleet program can provide opportunity to try a variety of boats and boards, and other sailing club related activity through age-appropriate design. At this level, many participants may investigate buying a boat or board however, many continue to participate as a crew or continue to use a club owned boat or board. If participants are taking part in in competition at this stage, they should join modified racing at carnival/participation focussed events, with the clear outcomes of enjoyment and not for performance. 

Step 5 – Intermediate fleet  

At step 5, participants can take part in Intermediate-Fleet coaching programs, most will have bought their own boat or Board, or have become part of a regular crew. These programs are about creating independent skills, practicing the fundamentals of racing, and improving technical knowledge. Intermediate fleet brings scheduled and regular coaching, which is delivered by accredited Coaches, at clubs and may be through class association programs. At step 5, participants will compete in club racing, class State and National Championships, Youth-Sail events, coaching clinics, and may look to becoming accredited as instructors, coaches, or officials themselves. Participants at step 5 are encouraged to participate in varied race formats such as match racing, team racing, free sailing and to continue to try and develop skills in different classes of boats and boards. 

Challenge, Compete & Perform

Step 6 – Advanced fleet 

Advanced-Fleet at step 6 is about participants training for events, and performance aspirations in state and national competition. The Advanced fleet stage is designed to enable participants to train to compete. The coaching is regular, with extended personal commitment, plus commitment to club and class association racing or competition. Advanced fleet sailors with performance potential, which is appropriate to age, stage and chosen class may be identified through initial demonstration of skills and attributes to Performance Pathways programs delivered at steps 7. 

Participants at step 6 will travel to and compete in large regattas away from their club, these would include state and national class championships as well as some who may choose to compete internationally in events such as World championships. In addition to the regular coaching and training which participants undertake, they may also take part in squad based coaching camps and clinics throughout the year, usually scheduled around key regattas or holiday periods. 

From Step 6, there are a variety of options to continue to develop interest, experience, and skills in the sport, including international competition, offshore racing in keelboats, instructing, coaching, or officiating or vocational training and employment on one of these pathways.  

For Youth (secondary school age) and adults, the Performance Pathways and High-Performance steps are: 

Step 7 - State Performance Programs (State Scholars) 

Squad based coaching with integrated performance support for identified athletes in Olympic and Olympic Pathway classes, who are demonstrating future high performance athlete potential, as evidenced by assessment against the Athlete Development Framework. In many states and identified classes, the State Performance Program will provide the daily training environment for identified athletes, however, athletes are encouraged to remain connected to their club, by attending club training, racing, and social activities where possible. Athletes selected as part of state performance programs get access to the following areas of support where needed such as Individual development/campaign plans, Strength and conditioning, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Athlete well-being and engagement, Nutrition and Medical in addition to coaching.  

Step 8 - Australian Sailing Futures (ASF) 

Advanced, class specific, technical coaching for athletes identified as tracking towards progression to the Australian Sailing Squad (step 9) within 2-3 years. ASF is a camp-based program offering advanced development experiences to ASF athletes in preparation for the transition to the Australian Sailing Squad (step 9) or Team (step 10). The primary daily training environment for ASF athletes remains the state performance program, with athletes still encouraged to remain connected to their club. Limited performance support may be available to these athletes in their camp training environments. The primary source of their performance support is also through their state programs. The program may include some overseas regatta support at events that the coaches and program lead believe best meet the needs of sailors at this level. Athletes will also gain access to a psychology framework with this group, which is delivered in partnership with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) focused on ‘Mental Performance in Competition.’ 

Step 9 - Australian Sailing Squad (ASS)

The ASS provides a high-performance training environment, including advanced technical coaching and performance support, along with introductory campaign support for athletes meeting international benchmark performance standards and demonstrating the skills, behaviours and characteristics aligned to Olympic medal success. 

Step 10 - Australian Sailing Team (AST) 

The AST represents the highest stage of the AS Performance Pathway, offering Olympic level athletes advanced technical coaching, integrated performance support, and coordinated campaign support to ensure they perform their best at the Olympic Games.