⛵ 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...

⚓️ New Episode Alert: Prepping for the Summer Onslaught with Sailing Icon Kim Hapgood! ⚓️
We sat down on the American Sailor Podcast with Kim Hapgood, the legendary Program Director at Sail Newport, to talk about everything from 30 years of sailing education to major community milestones!
Here is what you missed on this week's episode:
• ⛵ The New J/7 Fleet: Sail Newport just commissioned a...⚓️ New Episode Alert: Prepping for the Summer Onslaught with Sailing Icon Kim Hapgood! ⚓️
We sat down on the American Sailor Podcast with Kim Hapgood, the legendary Program Director at Sail Newport, to talk about everything from 30 years of sailing education to major community milestones!
Here is what you missed on this week's episode:
• ⛵ The New J/7 Fleet: Sail Newport just commissioned a brand-new fleet of J/7s to replace their outgoing J/22s. With a roomier cockpit, boom-end sheeting, and extra stability, these boats are a game-changer for everyone from day renters to local 10-year-olds!
• 🏆 America's Cup "Full Circle" Moment: In a huge historic move, public-access community center Sail Newport has been named the Club of Record for the new American Racing Challenger America's Cup team!
• 🎒 The Pell Program: Celebrating its 8th year, this incredible partnership gets every single local public elementary fourth grader out on the water and into the classroom at Fort Adams State Park. Talk about growing the base of the sport!
• 🎓 Instructor Training & Career Advice: Kim (who has trained an estimated 750–1,000 instructors!) shares her wisdom on Level 1 courses, the benefits of the online/hybrid transition, and how a summer stint as a sailing instructor builds a professional resume that rivals any corporate internship.
What keeps Kim coming back after three decades? "Every day is different... and the rewards of watching staff or students have success in their own way is really big."
👉 Want a podcast sticker? Drop the team an email at AmericanSailor@ussailing.org!
What are your big plans for hitting the water this summer? Let us know in the comments! 👇

#USSailing #AmericanSailorPodcast #SailNewport #SailingEducation #CommunitySailing #SailingLife #AmericasCup #J7Boats #YouthSailing #SailingInstructor #RhodeIslandSailing Show more

Ep. 23 Interview: Sail Newport's Program...

This week the team sits down with Sail Newport's Program Director Kim Hapgood. Kim has been rocking it at Sail Newport for 30 years this year. John, Whitney and Kim catch up on all the happenings at Sail Newport including the recent J/7 fleet dedication and commissioning, the America's Cup and all things summer sailing.

🎙️ New Episode Alert: The American Sailor Podcast! ⛵
John, Lexi, and Whitney are back with a jam-packed "Notice Board" episode, and the clear theme of the week is: the ladies are absolutely killing it! 👑🔥
Here’s a quick recap of what’s happening in the sailing world right now:
🏆 Regatta Results & Highlights
• Opti Team Trials (Fair Hope, AL): Massive congratulations to Audrey Rashelle for taking 1st...🎙️ New Episode Alert: The American Sailor Podcast! ⛵
John, Lexi, and Whitney are back with a jam-packed "Notice Board" episode, and the clear theme of the week is: the ladies are absolutely killing it! 👑🔥
Here’s a quick recap of what’s happening in the sailing world right now:
🏆 Regatta Results & Highlights
• Opti Team Trials (Fair Hope, AL): Massive congratulations to Audrey Rashelle for taking 1st overall! She is only the third female sailor in the history of the event to win it.
• French Olympic Week (Hyères): Charlotte Rose dominated the ILCA 6 fleet to secure the win! Plus, a strong showing for the US 49er squad with Nevin Snow/Ian McDermid finishing 4th and Andrew Miller/Trevor Bourne taking 5th.
• ICSA Team Race Nationals: Stanford captured the Women's Team Race National Championship for the third year in a row, while Harvard went back-to-back to secure the Open Team Race title!
📅 Upcoming Events & Announcements
• 2026 US Junior Women's Championships: The double-handed Ida Lewis Regatta kicks off June 29 in Redwood City, CA, followed by the single-handed Leiter Trophy on July 27 in Corpus Christi, TX. These events are fully coached by US Sailing—register ASAP!
• US Multihull Championship: The Hobie Alter Cup is happening this weekend at Columbia Sailing Club (SC) in Weta Trimarans.
• Free SailFlow Pro Weekend: Thanks to US Sailing partner SailFlow, enjoy free Pro & Plus level access worldwide this weekend!
• Level 1 Instructor Certification: We are in peak certification season with around 150 courses running nationwide over a 6-week span. Get certified and get teaching!
• NSPS 2027: Mark your calendars for January 20–23, 2027, for the National Sailing Program Symposium in Fort Myers, FL. Look out for the presenter proposal forms dropping soon for discounted tickets!
🗣️ Want a free sticker? Email us at podcast@ussailing.org and we'll mail you one!
Drop your thoughts on this week's action in the comments below, and don't forget to go back and listen to last week's incredible interview with Sir Russell Coutts if you missed it! 👇
#USSailing #AmericanSailorPodcast #CollegeSailing #YouthSailing #OlympicSailing #WomenInSailing Show more

Ep. 22 Notice Board: The ladies are killing it 💪

From Opti Team Trials to French Olympic Week to College Nationals, female athletes led the way this week. Tune in for the latest news and commentary from American Sailor.

🎙️ ICYMI: Sir Russell Coutts Joins the American Sailor Podcast! ⛵️
Hosts John Pierce and Charlie Enright sat down with sailing legend, Olympic gold medalist, and SailGP Co-Founder & CEO Sir Russell Coutts for a deep dive into the future of professional and youth sailing!
Here are the big takeaways from their conversation:
• 🏆 SailGP’s Evolution: From funding all six startup teams in 2018 to...🎙️ ICYMI: Sir Russell Coutts Joins the American Sailor Podcast! ⛵️
Hosts John Pierce and Charlie Enright sat down with sailing legend, Olympic gold medalist, and SailGP Co-Founder & CEO Sir Russell Coutts for a deep dive into the future of professional and youth sailing!
Here are the big takeaways from their conversation:
• 🏆 SailGP’s Evolution: From funding all six startup teams in 2018 to nearly selling out every franchise, the league is tracking toward a massive 20+ event global calendar featuring split fleets (10 and 10).
• 🇺🇸 The Critical US Market: With the USA SailGP team climbing the rankings and a new state-of-the-art training facility opening in Pensacola this September, the US is more central to the league's commercial future than ever.
• 🗽 Next Stop: New York! Mark your calendars for the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix (May 30-31) racing right off Manhattan and Governor’s Island. Look for live coverage on the CBS Sports Network and YouTube!
• 👧 Youth Sailing Shakeup: Russell drops some "controversial" wisdom on youth sports—arguing we evaluate kids far too young, push spectators and parents too far away, and need to embrace more double-handed boats and modern foiling disciplines to keep numbers in the sport.
"We want to have the boats challenging to sail. We want to test for the best sailors in the world." — Sir Russell Coutts
🎧 Listen to the full episode to hear Russell reminisce about a 1996 regatta in Wisconsin, his thoughts on the upcoming LA 2028 Olympics, and why he thinks race committees need to stop postponing races for wind shifts!
#USSailing #AmericanSailorPodcast #SailGP #RussellCoutts #Sailing #YouthSailing #Foiling Show more

Ep. 21 Interview: SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts

This week, we sit down with sailing legend Sir Russell Coutts — ISAF Youth World Champion, Olympic gold medalist, five-time America’s Cup winner, and co-founder & CEO of SailGP. Russell joins hosts John Pearce and Charlie Enright for a wide-ranging conversation on building SailGP into a global league, the future of the sport, and his candid perspective on sailing’s development pathway. Along the...

⛵️ Big news for aspiring Olympic sailors! 🇺🇸
US Sailing and Oakcliff Sailing are teaming up to launch a second Olympic Pathways Camp this summer, heading to San Pedro, California from August 10–12, 2026!
Even more exciting? It's taking place right at the official venue that will host the sailing competitions for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games! 🌟
Whether you’re exploring Olympic-class sailing for...⛵️ Big news for aspiring Olympic sailors! 🇺🇸
US Sailing and Oakcliff Sailing are teaming up to launch a second Olympic Pathways Camp this summer, heading to San Pedro, California from August 10–12, 2026!
Even more exciting? It's taking place right at the official venue that will host the sailing competitions for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games! 🌟
Whether you’re exploring Olympic-class sailing for the first time or already competing, this camp offers an incredible chance to: 🔹 Train in high-performance classes (49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17, and 470) 🔹 Get hands-on coaching from elite instructors 🔹 Learn the ins and outs of campaign planning and athlete development
🏆 Put skills to the test: The camp wraps up with the Triple Crown 2 Regatta from August 14–16, giving sailors the perfect opportunity to apply everything they’ve learned in a competitive environment.
If you’re ready to take the next step toward your Olympic dreams, don’t miss out on this path to the world stage.
👉 Read the full announcement and get details on how to get involved here: www.ussailing.org/news/olympic-pathways-camp-comin…
#USSailing #OakcliffSailing #OlympicDevelopment #RoadToLA28 #Sailing #OlympicPathways Show more

⛵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!

⛵️ New Episode Drop: Deep Dive into Regatta Management! ⛵️
We are kicking off the upcoming sailing season with a brand-new episode of the American Sailor Podcast!
Hosts John Pierce and Whitney Kent sit down with special guest host Lynn Lynch, the Sailing Director at the New York Yacht Club and a highly certified International Race Officer (IRO). With the summer season just around the corner,...⛵️ New Episode Drop: Deep Dive into Regatta Management! ⛵️
We are kicking off the upcoming sailing season with a brand-new episode of the American Sailor Podcast!
Hosts John Pierce and Whitney Kent sit down with special guest host Lynn Lynch, the Sailing Director at the New York Yacht Club and a highly certified International Race Officer (IRO). With the summer season just around the corner, we’re getting into the nitty-gritty of what it takes to run world-class events.
🎧 Inside This Episode:
• The Logistics of 1,600+ Sailors: Lynn breaks down the massive undertaking of running the Annual Regatta, from managing 160 boats to navigating complex scoring formats.
• The Game-Changer—Markbots: How robotic marks are completely shifting the strategy and pace of modern team racing.
• High-Tech vs. Pure Sailing: A fascinating discussion on how automated line calling and advanced rating rules are impacting competitors and race committees alike.
• Road to LA 28: A sneak peek at the incredible depth of talent in the US race official community leading up to the next Olympic games.
• The "Dark Art" of Race Committee: Ever wonder what happens right after a race officer cancels racing for the day? Lynn shares a hilarious cautionary tale from Newport.
We also give a massive shoutout to the recent American champions at the Wasp games in Pensacola, and look ahead to the 47 US athletes benchmarking their skills at the upcoming Palma Regatta!
"I feel as competitive running the races as I do sailing in them." — Lynn Lynch
Whether you're an elite racer, a weekend frostbiter, or a volunteer on your local race committee, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss.
👇 Tune in now on your favorite podcast platform! 👇
#USSailing #AmericanSailorPodcast #RaceManagement #SailingLife #RegattaLife #LA28 Show more

Ep 19 Interview: NYYC Sailing Director Lynn Lynch

This week we are joined by New York Yacht Club Sailing Director Lynn Lynch! Listen as we dive into her career and how she got to NYYC, what it takes to put on a world-class regatta, and her take on how technology has evolved in the sport for Race Committees and sailors alike!

🌊 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!

🇺🇸 Meet the 2026 US Sailing Youth National Team! ⛵️
We are thrilled to celebrate the next generation of American sailing talent! US Sailing has officially announced the 2026 US Sailing Youth National Team (USYNT), featuring 61 elite athletes from across the nation.

🌟 Pathway to Greatness
Now in its second year, the USYNT is a vital bridge in the Olympic development pathway, connecting youth...🇺🇸 Meet the 2026 US Sailing Youth National Team! ⛵️
We are thrilled to celebrate the next generation of American sailing talent! US Sailing has officially announced the 2026 US Sailing Youth National Team (USYNT), featuring 61 elite athletes from across the nation.

🌟 Pathway to Greatness
Now in its second year, the USYNT is a vital bridge in the Olympic development pathway, connecting youth talent to the US Sailing Team. These athletes (age 19 and under) have qualified in high-performance classes including:

29er, i420, Nacra 15, ILCA 6, iQFOiL & Formula Kite

💪 Training for Success
The team will receive world-class support, including dedicated training camps and expert coaching at major international championships. Key upcoming dates:

June: National Team Training Camp at Roger Williams University (Bristol, RI).

September: Training in San Francisco, CA.

November: Training in Miami, FL.

December 11–19: Up to 16 athletes will represent the USA at the Youth Sailing World Championships in Vilamoura, Portugal!

"Our goal is to bring the top youth sailors in the US together as one team, to train in collaborative settings and compete for the USA." — Phil Muller, US Sailing Youth Performance Manager.

Join us in cheering on these incredible young athletes as they set sail toward their dreams! 🌊💨

#USSailing #USYNT #YouthSailing #RoadToOlympic #TeamUSA #SailingLife Show more

Happy 2026, sailors! ⛵️ The American Sailor Podcast is back for its first episode of the year, and we are kicking things off with some major announcements and a deep dive into the 2025 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year finalists!
Here is what’s on deck:
🏆 Rolex Finalists: The Best of 2025
The shortlists are in, and the competition is stacked! We’re discussing the incredible seasons of:...Happy 2026, sailors! ⛵️ The American Sailor Podcast is back for its first episode of the year, and we are kicking things off with some major announcements and a deep dive into the 2025 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year finalists!
Here is what’s on deck:
🏆 Rolex Finalists: The Best of 2025
The shortlists are in, and the competition is stacked! We’re discussing the incredible seasons of:
• Yachtsman Finalists: Justin Callahan (Team/Match Racing & Snipe), Taylor Canfield (J/70 & M32 Worlds), and Paul Cayard (Star World Champion 37 years after his first win!).
• Yachtswoman Finalists: Allie Bell (Transpac winner), Laura Grondin (J/70 World Champion), and Pearl Lattanzi (Waszp Women’s World Champion).
⚓️ US Sailing News & Updates
• Olympic Leadership: Big welcome to Molly Vandemore, our new Director of Olympic Sailing! Molly and CEO Charlie Enright are leading a restructure to charge toward LA 2028 and beyond.
• National Coaching Symposium: We’re back in person! Join us in Merritt Island, FL, Feb 17-19. Keynotes include Triple Olympic Medalist Mat Belcher and coaching legend Dave Perry. Register by Feb 1st to avoid late fees!.
• Regional Symposiums: Coming to Seattle, Bristol, and more! (Note: The Hilton Head event is currently postponed due to weather) .
• Host a Course: Want a Level 1-3 instructor course at your club? Submit your request form at least six weeks in advance to get on the calendar.
🎧 Tune In
Catch the full breakdown of the "Why of the Y" (Yachtsman/Yachtswoman) and hear Phil Mueller rub in the 76-degree Florida weather.
📺 Watch on YouTube to see Whitney’s "art gallery" backdrop or 🎧 Listen on Spotify/Apple Podcasts!
#USSAILING #AmericanSailorPodcast #RolexYachtman #SailingLife #OlympicSailing #CoachingSymposium Show more

Ep. 15 Notice Board: All things Rolex Yachtsman...

Gather ‘round: it’s Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year season!! Hosts John Pearce, Lexi Pline, and Whitney Kent (with special guest Phil Muller!) talk all things Y of Y on the pod this week, from the nomination process to an overview of each of the finalists. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts 🎙️