Women in Sport High Performance Pathway (WISH) 2026

National federations must plan accreditation slots, travel budgets and equipment transfer logistics for coaches nominated to the WISH Program, since participation often requires attendance at international modules, mentorship placements and championship-level regattas where boat allocation and shore-side transport are tightly scheduled.

WISH 2026: applications now being accepted

World Sailing is accepting applications for the Women in Sport High Performance Pathway (WISH), a targeted initiative aimed at increasing female representation among elite sport coaches at Olympic, World Championship and other major-event levels. The program runs for 21 months and combines leadership training, sport-specific mentoring and networking across National Federations and international events.

Program scope and recent participation

Since its pilot phase in 2019, the WISH Program—developed in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and supported by Olympic Solidarity—has enrolled over 125 women from 22 sports and 60 countries. World Sailing has supported five sailing coaches in previous cycles, integrating them into high-performance environments where coaching decisions influence athlete selection, tactical planning and on-water support during regattas.

Who should consider applying

The WISH Program is intended for female coaches who are already part of, or have potential to join, a national delegation to Regional and Continental Games, World Championships, the Youth Olympic Games or the Olympic Games across summer and winter sports. Candidates typically have a track record in athlete development and seek leadership roles within high-performance squads.

Core benefits for participants

• Leadership development tailored to high-performance coaching environments
• Sport-specific mentoring linking coaches with established international specialists
• Networking opportunities with MNAs, technical officials and international peers
• Enhanced visibility for nomination to international coaching appointments

Application requirements and submission

Prospective applicants must submit a coaching and sailing CV together with a one-page cover letter. The cover letter should clearly address:

• Why the applicant wants to join the WISH Program
• What support or development the program can provide
• What the applicant expects to achieve through participation

All materials should be sent by March 12 to [email protected]. National Member Associations (MNAs) are encouraged to nominate candidates and to account for the travel, accreditation and in-country logistics that enable engagement with the program’s international components.

Historical perspective: why WISH matters

Gender parity among athletes at the Olympic Games has improved, but coaching remains largely male-dominated: female coaches occupy roughly 13% of roles at the highest levels across many sports. WISH began as a pilot in 2019 to address this disparity directly by creating a pipeline of women equipped with the skills and confidence to lead high-performance teams.

From an operational standpoint, WISH has also highlighted practical barriers to female coach participation—such as limited travel budgets within MNAs, restricted accreditation access during large events, and a shortage of role-model pathways into elite coaching. The program’s emphasis on mentorship and networking aims to mitigate these operational hurdles by connecting candidates to federations and event organizers that can accommodate their movement, credentialing and equipment needs.

Forecast: impact on international sailing and tourism

Expanding the cohort of female high-performance coaches can have downstream effects on the sailing ecosystem and coastal tourism. More women in leadership positions can diversify coaching styles and programming, which may increase the attractiveness of sailing clinics, charter training packages and family-oriented regattas. Over time this can influence demand for local marinas, shore services and charter fleets that host training camps and competitive events.

On the supply side, federations and event organizers will need to align logistics—transport of boats, shore-side facilities, accommodation blocks and coach accreditation—to support a broader and more diverse coaching workforce. That alignment can stimulate growth in associated services: increased boat charters for training, captain and coach rentals, shore-based activity coordination, and expanded marina use during regatta seasons.

Operational recommendations for MNAs

• Budget explicitly for coach travel and accreditation when nominating candidates.
• Coordinate with event organizers early to reserve coach boat allocations and tender support.
• Establish mentorship pairings that include logistical shadowing at major regattas.
• Track outcomes—placements, promotions and athlete performance—to justify continued investment.

By building capacity among female coaches, WISH can strengthen competitive programs while also broadening the market for sailing-related activities — from youth sailing schools and private boat charters to professional captain roles and the sale or rent of training boats. The program’s alumni network becomes a resource for federations planning training camps, coastal regattas and destination-based events that draw sailors, crews and support staff to marinas and coastal tourism hubs.

In summary, the WISH Program opens an operational and strategic pathway for female coaches to reach elite levels by combining leadership training, mentoring and international exposure. For sailing specifically, that pipeline helps federations plan the logistics of coaching deployment, supports the growth of coaching roles that feed into charter and training markets, and ultimately contributes to richer yachting and sailing ecosystems.

World Sailing’s WISH initiative is accepting applications through March 12—applicants should submit a coaching and sailing CV plus a one-page cover letter to [email protected]. The program offers a platform to address the persistent gender gap among high-performance coaches, and its ripple effects are likely to touch coaching pipelines, regatta logistics, and tourism-related boating services.

As more women enter high-performance coaching roles, the broader boating and tourism sectors stand to benefit: increased demand for charter boats and captain-led training, more diverse sailing activities at beaches and marinas, and enhanced programming around lakes, gulfs and open-ocean destinations. Whether through coaching placements on a club boat or leadership on a superyacht support team, graduates will influence yacht training, charter offerings and local yachting economies.

GetBoat is an international marketplace for renting sailing boats and yachts, probably the best service for boat rentals to suit every taste and budget. It is a practical resource for federations, coaches and athletes looking to arrange charter boats, hire a captain, or organize on-water training and coaching sessions in destinations with quality marinas and clearwater conditions. As WISH prepares the next generation of coaches, GetBoat.com can support the logistics of charter, rent and sale arrangements that underpin modern yachting, boating and sailing activities across sea, ocean, gulf and lake destinations.