Race officer pathway/qualification criteria 

Yachting New Zealand has formal qualifications for Club Race Officers (CRO) and National Race Officers (NRO).

Initial appointment will be for a nominal 4 years, with the termination date being the nearest June 30th to the fourth anniversary of the appointment date. Renewal will be on a four-yearly basis.

Club Race Officer

Yachting New Zealand may appoint a person as a Club Race Officer that has met the required levels of training, knowledge and skills and has demonstrated the ability to perform race officer duties to their club’s satisfaction.

Criteria for appointment and revalidation are:

1. Completed the Yachting New Zealand online Club Race Officer course
2. Have demonstrated experience in competently running club and/or regional events
3. Received satisfactory endorsement by a club flag officer

National Race Officer

Yachting New Zealand may appoint a person as a National Race Officer who has met the required levels of experience and qualification and has the ability to serve as a Race Officer for National Championships and major events.

In general, National Race Officers will have experience in both major single and multi-class regattas. They may have either dinghy or keelboat bias but preferably some experience in both.

• Setting on-the-water start lines
• Laying courses determined by wind direction
• Undertaking changes to courses on-the-water due to changes in wind direction
• Running races at various venues for various Organising Authorities

Candidates for appointment as National Race Officers will:

• Have wide yachting experience and be active in yacht racing 
• Have in-depth racing race management experience and be an active Club Race Officer
• Have in-depth knowledge of the racing rules pertaining to race management and of the World Sailing Race Management Manual and World Sailing Race Management Policies appropriate to the event and how these are modified to suit specific classes and events
• Be knowledgeable of Health and Safety practices to run safe racing

Have:

1. attended a Yachting New Zealand National Race Officer seminar within the previous 2 years,
2. at the seminar, passed the written examination (80%)
3. demonstrated suitable experience, including satisfactorily conducting a major event under the supervision of a National Race Officer
4. received two satisfactory references from National Race Officials. One of the referees must be the National Race Officer who supervised the event above.

Criteria for revalidation: To qualify for renewal, a candidate shall demonstrate that he or she has, during the previous four years, been an active race officer, maintaining a level of knowledge, skill and behaviour that is expected of a National Race Officer. They shall also comply with the following method of renewal:

A candidate shall, within the past two years:

1. have attended a Yachting New Zealand National Race Officer Seminar; and
2. have passed the written examination (80%)