© Photo credit: Royal Papua Yacht Club

Here at OSAF, our mission is to promote and develop our great sport of sailing across Oceania in every way we can. So, you can imagine how excited we were when an email from World Sailing's Development Manager, Catherine Duncan, landed in our inbox. It’s too good to keep to ourselves!

World Sailing is presenting a fourth incredible opportunity for our region's most promising female coaches to join the Women in Sport High Performance Coaching Program — or as the cool kids call it, WISH.

So, What’s the WISH Program All About?

Developed in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the WISH program is a 21-month leadership journey (you read that right, not 12 months) designed to empower elite female coaches. Forget learning how to tie a bowline here ; this program is all about sharpening your leadership skills, building confidence, and preparing you to take on the world stage.

Just ask the amazing female sailors who have gone before. After her week with WISH, our very own Papua New Guinea’s first female Olympic sailor, Rose-Lee Numa, said: "I am more confident, more aware and more open to learning and growing". The program has a proven track record, with graduates going on to gain national coaching roles and even coach men's professional teams. It’s a huge step toward closing the gender gap in coaching.

Could You Be the Rockstar Coach We’re Looking For?

World Sailing is searching for a woman coach who fits the following description:

You are already working with national programs that are on the pathway to major events like the World Championships, the Youth Olympic Games, and the Olympic Games.

You can commit to the full 21-month program, which includes:

• An online kickoff on December 9, 2025.
• An in-person residential session in the United Kingdom from March 1 - 7, 2026.
• You have a good command of written and spoken English.
• You have a squeaky-clean record with no history of anti-doping, safeguarding, or other ethics violations.

A Note for Our Amazing Oceania MNAs
This is where you, our valued Member National Authorities, come in! We need you to identify the talented women in your programs who are perfect for this opportunity. For your coach to be accepted, your National Olympic Committee and National Federation must agree to integrate her into the training and preparation activities leading up to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and/or the LA 2028 Olympic Games. This is your chance to actively help OSAF fulfill its mission of developing sailing in our region!

The Nitty-Gritty: How to Apply

This is moving faster than an ILCA catching a fresh breeze in the Waitematā Harbor, so don’t delay!

If you are a coach who is a perfect fit, please send your CV to Catherine Duncan at catherine.duncan@sailing.org.

The deadline is Sunday, August 31, 2025 EOD.

We realize this is a lot of information, and Catherine is available to speak with any interested MNAs to answer questions.