Sailors, racers and yachties — the next Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Speaker Night is one you won’t want to miss. On this Tuesday (6 May), North Sails will host a special evening at the RNZYS Ballroom featuring two of New Zealand’s most accomplished sailing minds: performance coach, Matt Steven, and professional bowman, Matt Kelway.
Running from 6pm to 8pm and free to attend, the evening offers a unique chance to hear directly from sailors operating at the sharpest end of the sport — from Olympic podiums to America’s Cup campaigns, Grand Prix regattas to global sailmaking.
Matt Steven: Coach, champion, weather expert
Matt Steven’s name is already well known in high-performance sailing circles, but his recent accolade as the 2024 B&G Performance Coach of the Year puts him firmly in the spotlight. He coached the ‘McKiwi’ dynamic duo of Isaac McHardie and Will McKenzie to a silver medal in the 49er class at the Paris 2024 Olympics — no small feat in one of the most competitive and technically demanding Olympic disciplines.
But Steven’s influence goes well beyond Olympic waters. He’s a three-time JJ Giltinan World Champion (2018, 2019 & 2020), often referred to as the pinnacle of 18-foot skiff racing. He’s also worked with Emirates Team New Zealand, contributing to the weather team — a critical component in the strategy and preparation behind any America’s Cup campaign.
Whether you’re a club sailor or a campaigner, Matt brings insight that applies across the board: performance tuning, mental preparation, teamwork, and the kind of marginal gains thinking that wins world titles.
Matt Kelway: Life on the bow
Joining Steven on stage is another Matt — Kelway — a name familiar to anyone who’s followed Grand Prix keelboat racing over the past decade.
Auckland-born Matt Kelway has carved out an impressive international sailing career, grounded in grit, precision, and relentless drive. As a top-tier professional bowman, Matt Kelway has spent years mastering the front of the boat under pressure.
Starting young at Bucklands Beach Yacht Club, he progressed through Optimists and Starlings before becoming bowman for renowned sailor Andrew Wills – a partnership that launched his trajectory in both professional sailing and his North Sails career.
Kelway quickly made a name for himself on the international circuit, earning respect as one of the world’s top bowmen. He spent three years aboard the RC44 Katusha, sailing with legends like Russell Coutts, Brad Butterworth, and Francesco Bruni. Later, he was bowman on Gavin Brady’s Beau Geste campaign, contributing to ORC World Championship wins in 2018 and 2022.
Come for the talk, learn from the experience
There’s no cost to attend, but an RSVP is essential — these nights are popular, and space fills quickly; last check about 40 seats left. RSVP on the RNZYS website.
