A kids’ sailing program that teaches ocean science just beat UEFA to a global award

Yachting New Zealand’s RŪNĀ program has won the Education and Training Award at the 2026 Sport Positive Awards, beating a shortlist of more than 80 organizations including UEFA and Columbia University. Founded in 2021, RŪNĀ uses sailing as a doorway into marine science, renewable-energy learning, and Māori environmental knowledge — reaching more than 25,500 students aged 8 to 15 and 830 teachers through 21 clubs — and is now expanding internationally, starting in Chile.