Chris Watters from Nova Scotia Named Sail Canada Coach of the Year
by Sail Canada 17 Sep 11:33 PDT
Chris Watters from Nova Scotia has been awarded the Sail Canada Coach of the Year © Sail Canada
Sail Canada announced today that Chris Watters from Boutiliers Point, N.S., has been named Sail Canada Coach of the Year for 2023, coinciding with the celebration of National Coaches Week, which concludes this Sunday.
The Sail Canada Coach of the Year Award is given each year to a coach who exemplifies exceptional coaching skills and promotes sporting excellence through a healthy approach to competition and enjoyment of the sport, along with effective training methods. The awarded individuals are registered and certified coaches recognized by Sail Canada who significantly impact athletes’ competitive performances while fostering the spirit of sportsmanship through respect, love for the sport, and commitment to fair and ethical sportsmanship.
Nominations were assessed based on activities occurring from January 1 to December 31, 2023.
“Receiving the Coach of The Year award from Sail Canada is a true honor, and I feel both happy and grateful,” expressed Chris Watters. “The dedication and hard work of the athletes I’ve coached motivate me to think innovatively, push limits, and continually listen and learn. Celebrating this achievement with my supportive family and friends is something I’m especially proud of.”
Chris Watters is certified as a CANSail 5/6 and Competition-Development coach.
In 2022, he established a new team named “East Coast ILCA,” aimed at High Performance ILCA sailors from across Eastern Canada and the USA, allowing them to partake in various regattas and clinics throughout North America. In 2023, he partnered with Sail Canada, the Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic, and Sail Nova Scotia to form a High-Performance single-handed team.
Among the athletes he coached in 2023 are:
Sullivan Nakatsu captured the title of top North American male sailor at the 2023 ILCA 6 Youth World Championships, securing first place in ILCA 6 at the Sail Canada Youth Championships, CORK International, and the Youth World Championships Qualifier;
Lilly Rainham was recognized as the top Canadian female sailor at the 2023 ILCA 6 Youth World Championships, finishing as the second female youth sailor in ILCA 6 at the Sail Canada Youth Championships, CORK International, and the Youth World Championships Qualifier;
Approximately 50% of the sailors selected during the Canadian Sailing Youth Squad trials came from the National Training Centre East;
Chris Watters, who also sails in Melges 24 and J70, previously coached Sail Canada Development Squad member Ryan Anderson.
From the nomination form: “Chris Watters is an outstanding coach and an exceptional role model, both on and off the water. He emphasizes developing each sailor’s unique capabilities within a team environment, dedicating himself to understanding what each sailor needs to reach their potential. His coaching is characterized by positivity, competitiveness, and a passion for the sport. Remarkably, Chris highly values integrity. His sailors are known to perform their penalties at regattas, even if they believe the jury did not notice the infraction. This reflects Chris’ coaching philosophy, consistently prioritizing honesty over placement.”
For more information regarding the Sail Canada Coach of the Year Award, please click here.
