Short course300 h · Online · 5 modules

Local Regatta Organization Course

This course gives you the essential tools to run successful local sailing events. You will learn the types of regattas and classes and the Racing Rules of Sailing, how to plan the event with its format, notice of race, sailing instructions, budget, timeline and organizing team, how to design courses, lay marks and run the race committee with starts, finishes and signals, how to build the safety plan with support boats and weather criteria, and how to secure sponsors, promote the event and manage volunteers.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules5
Program diagnosis

Prior knowledge check

These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.

Your diagnosis
6of 6 to cover

You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.

About the program

What is the Local Regatta Organization Course?

This short course is designed for yacht clubs and sailing schools that want to professionalise their events, sports event organizers who want to add regattas to their portfolio, sailing volunteers and enthusiasts, local authorities and sponsors interested in nautical tourism, and sports management and marketing students and professionals. You will study regatta types and classes, the Racing Rules of Sailing, governing bodies and federations, the racing calendar, participant profiles, event objectives and format, the notice of race and sailing instructions, budgeting, scheduling and the organizing team.

What sets this course apart: it follows the whole life of a local regatta, from the first idea to the prize-giving; it covers both the water, with course design, marks, race committee, signals and safety, and the shore, with budget, sponsorship, communication, volunteers and sustainability; and it ends with a final project in which you organize a complete local regatta with downloadable templates.

Program typeShort course
ModeOnline
Duration300 hours
Modules5
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Racing fundamentals: regatta types and classes, the Racing Rules of Sailing, federations and the season calendar.
  • Event planning: objectives, format, notice of race, sailing instructions, budget, timeline and team.
  • On the water: course design, mark laying, race committee, starts, finishes and visual and sound signals.
  • Safety first: safety plan, support boats, coordination with rescue services, weather and medical cover.
  • Off the water: sponsors, communication and social media, volunteers and event sustainability.
  • Final project: organizing a complete local regatta from the notice of race to the results.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Local Regatta Organization Course

5 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Regatta fundamentals

  • 1.1. Types of regatta and classes
  • 1.2. The Racing Rules of Sailing
  • 1.3. Governing bodies and federations
  • 1.4. Calendar and season
  • 1.5. Participant profiles
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Event planning

  • 2.1. Objectives and format
  • 2.2. Notice of race and sailing instructions
  • 2.3. Budget
  • 2.4. Timeline
  • 2.5. Organizing team
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Racecourse and race committee

  • 3.1. Course design
  • 3.2. Mark laying
  • 3.3. The race committee
  • 3.4. Starts and finishes
  • 3.5. Visual and sound signals
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Safety

  • 4.1. Safety plan
  • 4.2. Support boats
  • 4.3. Coordination with rescue services
  • 4.4. Weather and abandonment of races
  • 4.5. Medical cover
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Sponsorship, promotion and project

  • 5.1. Finding sponsors
  • 5.2. Communication and social media
  • 5.3. Volunteers
  • 5.4. Event sustainability
  • 5.5. Final project: organizing a local regatta
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Local Regatta Organization Course

It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
6
months to finish
25 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Local Regatta Organization Course

01Coordinate effective regattas, applying the Racing Rules of Sailing and the sailing instructions and coordinating communication between competitors, the race committee and the maritime authorities.
02Encourage participation and enjoyment, creating a positive, inclusive and collaborative atmosphere for competitors of all levels.
03Ensure regulatory compliance and a safety culture, documenting and assessing risks, investigating incidents and improving procedures continuously.
04Promote the sport of sailing by organizing inclusive and accessible nautical events for different groups.
05Optimize resource management, prioritizing preventive maintenance of boats and equipment, fuel consumption and the inventory of equipment and supplies.
06Ensure the safety of participants, monitoring their physical condition and adapting the activity to their needs and abilities.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Local Regatta Organization Course

01Nautical event organizerplanning and running local regattas.
02Race officialsupport roles such as timekeeper or race committee member, together with the qualifications the sailing federations require for each role.
03Yacht club managercoordinating activities and events for members.
04Nautical tourism promoterdesigning tourist packages around regattas.
05Sports event consultantadvising on the organization of regattas.
06Volunteer coordinator in nautical organizationslogistical and organizational support at regattas.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Local Regatta Organization Course

To plan and run sailing races in a specific area safely and fairly, promoting the sport, bringing together the local sailing community and adding value for clubs, sponsors and the area.

The organizing authority, usually a club or association, which appoints an organizing committee and a race committee to run the races on the water, in coordination with the relevant authorities.

Basic knowledge is recommended. The course reviews the rules and how they are applied in local events, including the notice of race and sailing instructions.

Yes. A full module covers the safety plan, support boats, coordination with rescue services, weather criteria for abandoning races and medical cover.

Yes. The course covers finding sponsors, communication and social media, volunteer management and the sustainability of the event, so that the regatta can be repeated year after year.

Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with video lessons, practical exercises, downloadable guides and templates and tutorials with the teaching staff.

The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of 60 hours each. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at yacht clubs, sailing schools, sports event organizers, sailing volunteers and enthusiasts, local authorities and sports management students; basic knowledge of the racing rules, nautical meteorology and safety at sea and some experience taking part in or supporting regattas are recommended.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer, tablet or smartphone with a stable internet connection and an up-to-date browser; familiarity with email and online tools is useful for regatta management and timing software.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $196 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.

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