US Sailing

US Sailing
FoundedOctober 30, 1897
Location
Websiteussailing.org

The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing) is the national governing body for sailing in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.[1][2] US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team.[3]

US Sailing is responsible for selection and training of the US Sailing Team representing the United States in the Olympic Games. Sailors who eventually compete in the Olympics are coming from a well developed racing community in the U.S. Sailboat racing can be found in colleges and universities,[4][5] yacht clubs, sailing clubs and sailing schools.[6] This support produces sailors with solid sailing experience to compete in the Olympics.[7] U.S. sailors also compete in the America's Cup and other races around the world. Paul Cayard, who previously (2021–2023) served as the executive director of the US Olympic Sailing Team is an example of someone who sailed (unsuccessfully) both in the Olympics and the America's Cup.[8][9][10]

US Sailing is an organization that is not only a governing body for the Olympics, but has a formal process to engage professional schools in establishing national standards for education and accreditation. It is making an effort to engage its 44,000+ sailing and boating members and has recognized publicly that there is more effort needed in outreach for inclusion and diversity. Its Siebel Sailors Program[11] and other partnerships at the local level are seeking to improve the representation in the sport and recreational community so that it reflects the diversity in the US population.[12]

Objectives

The stated objectives of US Sailing are to:[13]

  • Provide leadership, integrity and advancement for the sport of sailing.
  • Be the recognized leader in training and certification, in support for the racing sailor and in facilitating access to sailing.
  • Promote the participation, education, opportunity and safety of sailing.
  • Raise standards and expand competitive sailing in the U.S.
  • Achieve success at highest levels of international competition.
  • Strengthen governance and organizational efficiency.

History

October 30, 1897: The North American Yacht Racing Union (NAYRU) was organized.

The Sears Cup has been awarded by US Sailing annually for the Chubb U.S. Junior Triplehanded Sailing Championship since 1921. The Mrs. Charles Francis Adams Trophy has been awarded annually by US Sailing for the U.S. Women's Sailing Championship since 1924. Neither US Sailing events were sailed during the World War II years 1942–45.

1931: Canada, which was originally part of NAYRU, formed its own Canadian Yachting Association (CYA)

1957: A trophy donated by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, was named for naval architect Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, began to be awarded annually[14]

January 1975: NAYRU changed its name to the United States Yacht Racing Union. (USYRU)

Early 1980s: USYRU created a program to train young sailors through a network of certified instructors.

October 1991: USYRU change its name to the United States Sailing Association, Inc. and began to do business as US SAILING.

1993: US Sailing developed a comprehensive instruction program for adults to learn to sail in larger sailboats.

2019: US Sailing located its training for the US Sailing Olympic Team on Treasure Island, San Francisco[15]

Competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo took place from 27 July to 6 August 2021 at the Enoshima Yacht Harbor.[16] The RS:X, Laser, Laser Radial, Finn, 470, 49er, 49er FX, and Nacra 17 were all returning for 2020; there were no significant changes to the Olympic program from 2016.

Membership

US Sailing has four levels of membership (Individual, Family, Youth, and College) with varying eligibility requirements and benefits.[17]

References

  1. ^ "History". US Sailing. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  2. ^ "Contact". US Sailing. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  3. ^ ISAF: Member National Authorities.
  4. ^ "Women's Sailing places 14th at Nationals". News. Connecticut College. Connecticut College News. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Sailing World's College Rankings". Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association. ICSA. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  6. ^ "2022 Northern California Sailing Calendar". Magazine. No. 2022. Latitude 38 Magazine. 1 January 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Maggie Shea '11 makes Olympic sailing team". Connecticut College. Connecticut College News. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  8. ^ History of the America’s Cup - Big Boats Reborn
  9. ^ "Cayard Laments Oracle Move". CNN Inside Sailing. December 11, 2002.
  10. ^ Cayard: the AC From the Outside (en) Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Siebel Sailors Program Will Make Splash in PNW Youth Sailing". Northwest Maritime. 48 Degrees North Magazine. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Rich Jepsen, President of US Sailing". Podcast of Audio Broadcast on Sports Byline. Private Client Sports, Inc., iHeart Radio, Vimeo. Sail Sport Talk on Sports Byline. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  13. ^ US Sailing: Mission, Vision and Strategic Goals 2012-2014.
  14. ^ "Herreshoff Trophy Awarded To Trotman". World Sailing. London. 19 November 2006. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
    Dipping, Caroline (11 December 2013). "Olympic shipwright, sailor Carl Eichenlaub dies at 83". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  15. ^ "Malcom Page on US Sailing Olympic Team Training at Treasure Island". Podcast of a live broadcast on Sports Byline. Private Client Sports, Inc., iHeart Radio and Vimeo. Sail Sport Talk on Sports Byline. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Sailing". Tokyo 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  17. ^ US Sailing: Membership Options