⛵ Episode 25 of the American Sailor Podcast is live! 🎙️
In this episode, the pod squad sits down with John Ped and Kaila Pfrang of Team Tips Up as they prepare to take on the legendary Race to Alaska!
Spanning over 700 miles from Port Townsend, Washington, to Ketchikan, Alaska, this extreme endurance race comes with zero pre-planned support and a strict no-engine rule! John and Kaila share how they...⛵ Episode 25 of the American Sailor Podcast is live! 🎙️
In this episode, the pod squad sits down with John Ped and Kaila Pfrang of Team Tips Up as they prepare to take on the legendary Race to Alaska!
Spanning over 700 miles from Port Townsend, Washington, to Ketchikan, Alaska, this extreme endurance race comes with zero pre-planned support and a strict no-engine rule! John and Kaila share how they custom-engineered pedal drives for their 24-foot trimaran, their strategy for navigating severe tide cycles, and what it takes to power through 7 hours on a single tack.
Plus, the squad covers the podcast’s 1-year anniversary and catches up on quick highlights from around the sailing world:
• 🇫🇷 Solitaire du Figaro: Erica Lush’s epic run pushing to be the first American woman to complete two editions.
• ⛵ Offshore Racing: Updates on the Annapolis to Bermuda race and the upcoming Newport Bermuda.
• 🏆 Santa Maria Cup: Team BAM taking 1st place on the Women's Match Racing Tour!
• 🥇 High School Nationals: Big congrats to Severn School for sweeping both team and fleet race nationals!
#AmericanSailor #RaceToAlaska #TipsUpSailing #USSailing #SailingLife #OffshoreSailing #Podcast Show more

Episode 25: Race to Alaska with Tips Up Sailing

In this week's episode of American Sailor, the pod squad is joined by John Ped and Kaila Pfrang of Tips Up Sailing to discuss one of the most unique and challenging endurance races in the world: the Race to Alaska. John and Kaila share their experiences, preparation, and insights into the legendary race, which spans over 750 miles from Washington to Alaska with no engines allowed. Tune in to...

⛵American Sailor Podcast | Episode 20: Olympic Trajectories, Youth Power, and Cup Shakeups! ⛵
We’ve officially hit 20 episodes! 🎉 In this jam-packed episode, the Pod Squad is joined by special guest host Molly Vandemore, US Sailing's Director of Olympic Sailing, to break down the massive energy building in the American sailing scene.
Here’s what’s cooking in the world of US Sailing:
• 🏆 Palma Regatta...⛵American Sailor Podcast | Episode 20: Olympic Trajectories, Youth Power, and Cup Shakeups! ⛵
We’ve officially hit 20 episodes! 🎉 In this jam-packed episode, the Pod Squad is joined by special guest host Molly Vandemore, US Sailing's Director of Olympic Sailing, to break down the massive energy building in the American sailing scene.
Here’s what’s cooking in the world of US Sailing:
• 🏆 Palma Regatta Recaps: The US team showed serious depth at the Trofeo Princesa Sofía with 47 US athletes competing and four teams finishing in the top five! Huge shoutouts to Noah Lyons (IQFoil Men) and the duo of Nevin Snow & Ian MacDiarmid (49er) for bringing home silver medals 🥈🇺🇸.
• 📋 The New Olympic Format: The crew dives into what the new compressed finals format means for athletes, traditionalists, and the future of media storytelling in the sport.
• 🌴 LA 2028 Horizon: Molly shares an insider look at the training compounds and footprints taking shape in Long Beach and San Pedro as athletes gear up for summer training.
• 🌊 America's Cup Groundbreaker: Reaction to the stunning news of Rhode Island’s Sail Newport launching a community-sailing-backed challenge for the America's Cup 🏆😲.
• 🚀 Next Gen Excellence: Congratulations to the 61 athletes named to the second annual US Sailing Youth National Team! The summer training calendar is officially set, leading up to the Youth Worlds in Portugal this December.
🎁 Listener Perk! Because we made it to Episode 20 without being pulled off the air, we're giving away American Sailor stickers! Want one? Send your mailing address and feedback to americansailor@ussailing.org (limited supply!).
👉 Tune in now on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a review!
#AmericanSailor #USSailing #OlympicSailing #YouthSailing #AmericasCup #SailNewport Show more

Ep: 20 Notice Board: Palma recap with Molly...

In this week's episode, the pod squad is joined by US Sailing's Director of Olympic Sailing, Molly Vandemoer to discuss the latest happenings in the Olympic sailing scene and recap of an intense week of competition in Palma!

🌊 Sailing News Round-up! ⛵️
The latest episode of the American Sailor Podcast is out, and we’re covering everything from podium finishes to frozen lakes! Here’s what you missed:
🏆 Victory in Sydney! A massive shoutout to the US SailGP Team for their incredible win in Australia. This marks the first top-podium finish for the new team led by Taylor Canfield and Mike Buckley.
🌟 Awards Season: We...🌊 Sailing News Round-up! ⛵️
The latest episode of the American Sailor Podcast is out, and we’re covering everything from podium finishes to frozen lakes! Here’s what you missed:
🏆 Victory in Sydney! A massive shoutout to the US SailGP Team for their incredible win in Australia. This marks the first top-podium finish for the new team led by Taylor Canfield and Mike Buckley.
🌟 Awards Season: We celebrated the 2024 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year, Paul Cayard and Laura Grondin. We also break down the transparent voting process behind these prestigious honors.
🎤 Symposium Highlights:
• Regional Symposiums: US Sailing is hitting the road to connect with local organizations on program leadership and fundraising.
• National Coaching Symposium: We headed to Florida for on-water drills and expert sessions with legends like Dave Perry, Ed Baird, and Matt Belcher.
❄️ Winter Winds: From an "epic" ice boating season in the Northeast and Midwest to the start of the college sailing season (including the Cactus Cup in Arizona!), sailors are finding ways to get on the water—even if it's frozen.
✅ PSA: It’s instructor certification season! Now is the time to sign up for small boat, keelboat, and Safety at Sea courses.
Listen to the full episode for all the details! 🎧
#USSailing #AmericanSailor #SailGP #SailingLife #RolexAwards #IceBoating Show more

Ep. 17 Notice Board: Guest Host Charlie Enright

In this week's episode, US Sailing CEO Charlie Enright rejoins the podcast, highlighting the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards, US Sailing Symposiums, SailGP, and more!

⚓ The Gang’s All Here!
The American Sailor Podcast is Back!
After "many moons" out in the wild, Lexi Pline has officially returned to the pod! She joins John Pierce and Whitney Kent to catch us up on a whirlwind month of sailing news, from the turquoise waters of Bermuda to the high-stakes world of Olympic formatting.
🏆 Regatta Recap & World Tours
• Bermuda Gold Cup: A double-win for Sweden!...⚓ The Gang’s All Here!
The American Sailor Podcast is Back!
After "many moons" out in the wild, Lexi Pline has officially returned to the pod! She joins John Pierce and Whitney Kent to catch us up on a whirlwind month of sailing news, from the turquoise waters of Bermuda to the high-stakes world of Olympic formatting.
🏆 Regatta Recap & World Tours
• Bermuda Gold Cup: A double-win for Sweden! Yanni Bernson took the Open title, while Anna Östling and her Wing Sailing Team dominated the Women’s event.
• World Match Racing Tour Final: Keep an eye on the final in China this January. Representing the US are world #1 Chris Pool and college standout Christian Prendergast.
• Multihull Championship: 85 boats took over Corpus Christi for a high-energy "party on the water" featuring Hobie Waves, line dancing, and some serious Texas Hold'em.
📈 US Sailing News
• Stakeholder & Foundation Summits: Whitney gave us the inside scoop on the recent gatherings in Bristol and Annapolis. Central themes included the vital role of community sailing and the power of philanthropy in growing the sport.
• The New Strategic Plan: US Sailing’s roadmap for the coming years is finalized and dropping publicly very soon!
⛵️ The Future of the Olympics (LA 2028)
• World Sailing is testing new formats for the 2028 Games to make racing more "made-for-TV." Expect shorter, 4-day regattas and high-stakes "knockout" finals designed to ensure the winner of the last race takes the Gold.
🎓 Scholastic Standouts
• College: Huge congrats to Harvard for dominating the Match Racing Nationals and the Open Single-handed Nationals (shoutout to Robbie Meek!). Cornell’s Gilda Dondona took home the Women’s Single-handed title.
• High School: Severn School put on a clinic at the Atlantic Coast Champs, winning by a massive 50 points!
________________________________________
📣 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
We’re prepping a special year-end holiday episode. Send your questions, topics, or "mailbag" suggestions to americansailor@ussailing.org. Pro tip: Include your mailing address—John might just send a little something your way!
Listen to the full episode now! 🎧
#USSailling #AmericanSailor #SailingPodcast #CollegeSailing #OlympicSailing #MatchRacing Show more

Ep 13: The Return of the Notice Board

The crew is back! Catch up on the latest in the sailing world as Lexi reveals where she’s been adventuring, Whitney recaps the Stakeholder & Foundation Summit, and JP brings you inside the Thanksgiving Youth Camp.

🌊 New Podcast Episode: The Legendary Betsy Allison! ⛵️
We sat down with the one and only Betsy Allison to talk about her incredible journey from a "normal kid" on Barnegat Bay to a Hall of Fame sailor and world-class coach. 🏆

This episode covers it all:

The Legend’s Roots: How a "no-cleats" Sunfish and family time fueled a lifelong passion.

Adaptive Sailing: Betsy shares her 20-year journey...🌊 New Podcast Episode: The Legendary Betsy Allison! ⛵️
We sat down with the one and only Betsy Allison to talk about her incredible journey from a "normal kid" on Barnegat Bay to a Hall of Fame sailor and world-class coach. 🏆

This episode covers it all:

The Legend’s Roots: How a "no-cleats" Sunfish and family time fueled a lifelong passion.

Adaptive Sailing: Betsy shares her 20-year journey coaching the US Paralympic team and why "inclusion" is the future of the sport.

Breaking Barriers: From Captain Hook to modern-day world champions, we discuss how sailing is the ultimate equalizer for athletes with disabilities.

The Future of Fun: Why we need to bring the "social" and "fun" back into local racing to keep the sport growing.

"Just because someone may be a little bit different physically or intellectually doesn't mean that they can't be a valued part of the sailing community." — Betsy Allison

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!
🔗 Visit us at americansailing.org to submit your questions for Betsy’s next visit!

#AmericanSailor #SailingLife #AdaptiveSailing #InclusionMatters #BetsyAllison #USASailing #WomenWhoSail Show more

Ep. 12 Interview: Betsy Alison's remarkable story

This week, American Sailor co-host Whitney Kent sits down with US Sailing colleague and friend Betsy Alison. Betsy has worked at US Sailing for nearly two decades, currently leading the Adult Sailing department. She is a five time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year winner and has dominated an array of different boat classes throughout her professional career. Betsy coached the most successful...