Great coaches build great results.
KYC is proud to have an incredible team of local & international coaches guiding our sailors. They share their experience, inspire confidence, and build the next generation of champions — one tack at a time.
KYC coaching is held on club Sundays in the morning and in the evenings on select week days over summer.
ROWAN KENSINGTON – head coach.
As a competitive sailor Rowan and his brother Sean were New Zealand’s top 29er class team, with multiple championship titles, including the 2023 Auckland Championships and the Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta.
The brothers also won the 2023 Junior Sail Auckland 29er class.
They have competed internationally, including at the Optimist European Dinghy Championships in France. Rowan was part of the winning team at the RNZYS Youth Match Racing Championship in 2024, which earned them a spot at the Youth Match Racing World Championship in Jeddah. In addition to coaching at KYC Rowan is the head coach for the NZIODA Junior Boys Development Team & he has coached development teams traveling to competitions in Australia.
Lihuel Lacchini – international coach
Lihuel is the KYC international coach who brings talent, experience and enthusiasm.
- Australian Sailing Dinghy Instructor
- Federación Argentina de Yachting World Sailing Instructor Level 1 (currently undertaking Level 2)
- First Aid Certificate HLTAID011 (AUS)
- Powerboat Certificates (ARG & AUS)
420 (2017-2020)
- 1st Place Argentina National Championship 2018.
- 1st Place National Youth Qualifiers for 2018 World Sailing Youth World Cup.
- 14th Place World Sailing Youth World Cup 2018.
- 2nd Place Semana de Buenos Aires 2018 and 2019.
- 2nd Place Argentine National Youth Championship 2017.
- 3rd Place Semana Internacional del Yachting 2019 and 2020.
- 1st Place Copa Albatros 2018.
Optimist (2008-2015)
- 4th Place Argentina National Championship 2014.
- 1st Place “Campeonato Centro Naval” 2013.