Siebel Sailors Program
US Sailing launched a new initiative in 2019, made wholly possible by the generous donation of Tom and Stacey Siebel, that will increase opportunity and diversity in the sport of sailing by providing resources and support to public access sailing centers. Regardless of socio-economic background or level of experience, everyone will be welcomed into these programs located in five regions across the country. All equipment, high level coaching and curriculum will be provided so that the sailors can focus on getting to know the sport initially with the opportunity to advance their skill development through competitive venues. US Sailing recognizes that sailing should not be available only to those who can afford it or access water resources easily. Our youth programs will lead the charge to address challenges of access directly and we hope to reshape how people connect to the sport of sailing so that it can be enjoyed by all.
Sustainability
US Sailing is committed to fostering sustainable practices across the core areas of: environmental, social and economic, both on and off the water, to represent the collective interests of the sailing community. We envision a future where everyone has an opportunity to sail and to enjoy a lifetime of successes and rewarding experiences on the water. US Sailing is 100% committed to implementing meaningful sustainability practices and initiatives in all areas that are controlled or supported by US Sailing. Our focus will be on using digital platforms, becoming 100% free of single-use plastics for regattas and member organizations, leading environmental stewardship activities, reducing landfill impact and on diversity and inclusion.
Technology
US Sailing is proudly helping to usher the sport of sailing into the digital age. More sailors than ever before are accessing The Racing Rules of Sailing in the US Sailing app on their mobile devices. We have developed systems for capturing video and footage from events and programs across the country with a single click—media that can be developed into content to share on all platforms. Our educational events like National Sailing Program Symposium, Sailing Leadership Forum, and Regional Symposiums have topics focused on helping local sailing organizations pick the right technology for their program management. Online SafeSport training has expanded to every corner of the sailing industry—working to educate stakeholders and protect young athletes from sexual abuse. Safety at Sea and Basic Keelboat online courses are making it easier for sailors to become certified and better prepared for the next sailing adventure. And our SkillUp instructional app is poised to revolutionize the way sailing programs are run and sailors advance and improve their skills.
Competitive Excellence
US Sailing is committed to creating pipelines for sailors from all backgrounds and all corners of the country to achieve American success—and to telling those success stories to as large an audience as possible. Our Junior Olympic Sailing Festivals give over 4,000 young sailors every year a fun gateway to future opportunities in the sport. Our Olympic Development Program training camps, clinics, and travel teams ensure America’s path to the podium begins in youth programs across the country. Events like the National Coaching Symposium and courses like Level 3: Head Coach ensure that sailing coaches at the youth, high school, and college level have access to best practices and the latest techniques. And our relationship with the US Olympic Committee connects the sailing industry to coaching philosophies and new ideas from dozens of other National Governing Bodies.
Education
US Sailing sets the standard for sailing and boating education in the U.S. by offering certification courses for instructors and coaches. Our Smallboat instructor programs are the gold standard and in almost every Yacht Club or Community Sailing Center you’ll find an instructor who’s been trained by US Sailing. The Reach program provides STEM Education using sailing as a platform and our Keelboat Certification System offers seven levels of adult education ranging from Basic Keelboat through Offshore Passagemaking, providing the building-blocks to combine learned skills with experience. Through our sister affiliate US Powerboating, we off the best hands-on powerboat training in the industry and our Race Administration training and certification programs allows sailors to give back to the sport by supporting the racing sailor out on the water.