Sail Canada Coach of the Year

Chris Watters (Boutiliers Point, NS) has been selected Sail Canada Coach of the Year for 2023 as the country celebrates National Coaches Week, an annual event which ends on September 22. Nominations were evaluated based on a time period ranging from January 1 to December 31, 2023.

“To receive the Coach of The Year award from Sail Canada is truly an honour and makes me happy and grateful,” said Watters. “The hard work and dedication of the athletes I have worked with have inspired me to think creatively, push boundaries, and continue to listen and learn.”

The Sail Canada Coach of the Year Award is presented annually to a coach who demonstrates high coaching skills and contributes to sporting excellence by offering a healthy attitude towards winning and enjoying the sport, in addition to having shown effectiveness in training.

The winners are Sail Canada certified and registered coaches who demonstrate and have made a significant impact on athletes’ performances at competitions, and who reinforce the spirit of sport values to her/his athletes, measured by a respect for the game, a love for sport, a respect for others and a commitment to fair and ethical sport. Watters is a CANSail 5/6 and Competition-Development certified coach.

In 2022, he created a startup team, East Coast ILCA, for High Performance ILCA sailors from across Eastern Canada, as well as from the USA, to have them participate in various regattas and clinics across North America. In 2023, he had Sail Canada, the Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic, and Sail Nova Scotia all come in as partners for a High-Performance single-handed team.

Amongst the athletes he coached in 2023:
• Sullivan Nakatsu was the top North American male sailor at the 2023 ILCA 6 Youth World Championships and was first in ILCA 6 at Sail Canada Youth Championships, CORK International, and Youth World Championships Qualifier.

• Lilly Rainham was the top Canadian female sailor at the 2023 ILCA 6 Youth World Championships and the second female youth sailor in ILCA 6 at the Sail Canada Youth Championships, CORK International, and Youth World Championships Qualifier.

Roughly 50% of the sailors at the Canadian Sailing Youth Squad selection trials were from the National Training Centre East. Additionally, Watters sails in Melges 24 and J/70, and previously coached Sail Canada Development Squad member Ryan Anderson.

From the nomination form:
“Chris Watters is an extraordinary coach and an exceptional role model both on and off the water. He focuses on developing each sailors’ individual abilities within a team atmosphere and does everything that he can to determine what is needed for each sailor to meet their potential. His coaching is guided by positivity, competitiveness, and the love of sport. What is most refreshing is Chris’ value for integrity. His sailors have been known to do their spins at regattas even when they know that the jury did not witness the penalty. This behavior is a direct result of Chris’ coaching, as he always stresses honesty over placement.”

More information about the Sail Canada Coach of the Year Award is available at https://www.sailing.ca/coach-instructor-of-the-year-award-past-winners/.

Source: Sail Canada