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The training was delivered by ISAF Nominated Expert Tom Wilson. Specifically targeting the skills required to take existing experienced sailors and helping them develop the techniques required to coach sailing within their club, region or country, eight national candidates (2 female, 6 male) were nominated by the Fiji Yachting Association, bringing a variety of existing knowledge and experiences to share with the group.

The course started with a focus on coaching techniques and how to identify and develop specific skills through a structured programme whilst also focusing on individual sailor development, taking into consideration different learning styles applicable to varying ages of the participants. Candidates were then put through a number of both on and off-water activities designed to teach them a variety of ways to deliver sessions for both youth and adults, using games that contain the key learning points of a National Sail Training Programme syllabus.

The coaching group was also joined by a local school group in order to practice their new found skills on real students, prompting a response from a school representative, "Thank you so much for this. All the children are super excited and can't wait to go out on the water again."

The course was considered to be a great success by all the candidates reflected by a feedback comment from one of the participants, "The course was excellent, I mean really good. The ISAF Expert was talented, skilful, motivated and inspiring. I was a pleasure to interact with someone at this level. I didn't think it was possible to learn so much."

ISAF Nominated Expert Tom Wilson said of the training, "The coaches in Fiji were all thirsty for knowledge that they could apply in their own training. It is now crucial for ISAF and the FYA to keep the momentum going with the development that has begun this week. Fiji has an opportunity now to create a national structure that will make a huge difference to the retention of sailors from all of the islands. I have been very impressed by the FYA and their passion for our sport. This key ingredient is something that we struggle to keep when confronted with challenges and the Fijian coaches will no doubt conquer many of these if they stay motivated to achieve success. I will stay in touch with Lewa and the team and hope to see real, measureable developments over coming months, based on the action plan we have discussed."

Course pictures are available from our dedicated ISAF Training and Development Facebook page here.

John Philp, Fiji Yachting Association (FYA) added, "I think there is an amazing amount of thought and work which has gone into the ISAF Training and Development programme, evidenced by the professional conduct of ISAF Expert Tom Wilson's delivery of a Level 1 Coaches Course in Fiji this week. We now see how it fits into the jigsaw puzzle of developing sailing in Emerging Nations and how we can then link with the developed sailing nations. In a couple of words it was 'Very Professional.' The pathways for developing sailing in nations like Fiji are being made that much more clear with ISAF's support and the IOC Olympic Solidarity funding. We are excited about the future of sailing in our country and our region!"

Dan Jaspers, ISAF Training and Development Manager added, "This is the first Course of its kind that Fiji has hosted and we are very glad for the support and feedback of the Fiji Yachting Association. It is also a particularly special occasion when an ISAF Training Scholarship graduate takes a lead part in delivering these courses. In this case Lewa Rauqeuqe, alongside our experienced Nominated Expert Tom Wilson, has been an invaluable part of getting this course set up and delivered. We will now continue to ensure a system of follow-up supports Lewa and the MNA in completing all of the action points and feedback from the course, that will no doubt see the Fiji Yachting Association be able to further grow sailing at all levels in Fiji."

For more information on how your MNA can host an ISAF Technical Course for Coaches and for all related Training and Development information on how to develop National Sail Training Programmes, please visit our dedicated website page www.sailing.org/training