Inshore Racing Course: Tactics and Strategy
Online 300-hour course in inshore racing: tactics and strategy. 6 modules with the World Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing, Appendix C of the Rules: match racing rules and Expedition. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Inshore Racing Course: Tactics and Strategy — studying from New Zealand
Maritime engineering is significant for New Zealand, given its extensive coastline, large exclusive economic zone and a strong sailing and boatbuilding tradition. Auckland, often called the City of Sails, hosts boatbuilders, marine service providers and offshore engineering firms, while Maritime New Zealand regulates safety at sea. Opportunities include naval architecture, offshore energy and aquaculture, and the New Zealand Defence Force's naval fleet supports further demand.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$1,280 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
Which New Zealand bodies regulate marine and offshore engineering?
Maritime New Zealand regulates maritime safety and the operation of vessels, and Engineering New Zealand is the professional body for engineers. Marine surveying and certain roles require recognised certificates issued by official bodies. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so they do not replace these requirements.
Do marine and offshore employers in New Zealand value private qualifications?
New Zealand has active marine, boatbuilding, port and offshore sectors, particularly in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty. Employers usually prioritise recognised certificates, licences and practical experience. A SEIUM qualification may support an application, but whether it is valued is for each employer to decide.
Can I study this part-time from New Zealand?
Yes. The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so no student visa is needed to study from New Zealand. You are assigned a technical tutor and must complete a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Programme lengths range from 300 to 1,900 hours.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Distinguish between tactical and strategic decisions in racing.
Analyse the influence of wind and current on a coastal course.
Plan and execute effective starts.
Apply tactics on upwind legs, downwind legs and marks.
Adapt tactics to different competition formats.
Use tracking data to analyse decisions.
Develop a complete tactical and strategic plan for an inshore race.
Who it's for
- Racing tactician looking to specialise in Inshore Racing: Tactics and Strategy.
- Sailing coach looking to specialise in Inshore Racing: Tactics and Strategy.
- One-design skipper looking to specialise in Inshore Racing: Tactics and Strategy.
- Race analyst looking to specialise in Inshore Racing: Tactics and Strategy.
- Judge and referee looking to specialise in Inshore Racing: Tactics and Strategy.
- Club sporting director looking to specialise in Inshore Racing: Tactics and Strategy.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to join yacht clubs.
What you'll work with
- World Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing
- Appendix C of the Rules: match racing rules
- Appendix D of the Rules: team racing rules
- Appendix A of the Rules: scoring
- World Sailing Equipment Rules of Sailing (ERS)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Difference between tactics and strategy1.2Windward, leeward and relative position1.3Layline and its management1.4Close-hauled courses and tacking angles1.5Clear air and wind shadows1.6Control positions relative to the fleet1.7Risk and consolidation of advantages1.8Right-of-way rules that shape tactics1.9Reading the racing area1.10Practice: analysis of positions on a tracking replay
2.1Persistent and oscillating wind shifts2.2Wind pressure and gusts2.3Thermal effects and sea breezes2.4Influence of the coastline and topography2.5Tidal currents on inshore courses2.6Favoured side of the course2.7Game plan before the start2.8Collecting data on the water2.9Reviewing the plan during the race2.10Case study: strategy in Palma Bay
3.1Favoured line and advantaged end3.2Calculating time to the line3.3Acceleration and speed control3.4Positioning on the line3.5Starting signals and penalties3.6Black flag starts3.7Starts in large fleets3.8Crew communication at the start3.9Pre-start routines3.10Workshop: start routine with a stopwatch
4.1First beat and fleet management4.2Covering and clearing a rival4.3Tactics at windward marks4.4Gybes and downwind management4.5Leeward gates and mark selection4.6Reaching and running legs4.7Defending the lead4.8Comebacks on the second lap4.9Finish and favoured line4.10Laboratory: tactical analysis of a recorded race
5.1Fleet racing in one-designs5.2Match racing and pre-start control5.3Team racing and winning combinations5.4Medal race and knockout formats5.5Races with judges on the water5.6Coastal cruiser racing5.7Tactics in foiling classes5.8Particularities of SailGP series5.9Tactics for adaptive sailing crews5.10Case study: pre-start control in match racing
6.1Race and study scenario6.2Meteorological analysis of the course6.3Strategic plan for the course6.4Start plan6.5Tactics by leg6.6Crew communication plan6.7Post-race analysis with tracking6.8Conclusions and improvements6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Expedition, TracTrac, Adrena, Sailwave, in free, academic or evaluation versions. The assignments are based on real race analysis procedures using tracking data, drafting a start plan, and strategic study of a coastal racing area. Assessment is continuous, per module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Distinguish between tactical and strategic decisions in racing.
Analyse the influence of wind and current on a coastal course.
Plan and execute effective starts.
Apply tactics on upwind legs, downwind legs and marks.
Adapt tactics to different competition formats.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme is 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The course uses Expedition, TracTrac, Adrena and Sailwave. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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