KEY POINTS:
Yachting commentator and former America's Cup sailor Peter Lester is off to Qatar to head the sailing programme at the Aspire Sports Academy.
Lester, who provided commentary for the past three America's Cups, moves to Qatar on October 18. His wife, Susie, and two of his three children will follow in early December.
Lester said he was attracted by the chance to work in a fully professional sporting environment and the "adventure of going and living somewhere different".
And he will be closer to the America's Cup in Europe.
Lester said sailing was still developing in the Middle Eastern country.
"Their goal initially is regional and Asian Games. Qatar did get a medal at the Asian Games in sailing ... they see sailing as an opportunity.
"The conditions are nice because it is hot. We have seen that in Dubai and what came out of America's Cup teams Alinghi and Victory Challenge training there [in the buildup to the last cup] was that the conditions were pretty good for sailing."
Aspire, one of the world's most advanced athletic academies, was developed as part of a billion-dollar investment into sport in Qatar and opened in 2004.
Facilities include an indoor athletics stadium and seven multi-purpose sports halls.
Middle-distance runner Hicham El Guerrouj is an Aspire ambassador and French footballer Zinedine Zidane has visited and praised the facility.
Lester will join a handful of Kiwis who work at the academy, including former New Zealand long jumper and sprinter Kerry Hill, Aspire's talent and multisports coach.
