Six Olympic-Class Regattas are scheduled in Florida and California.
Sailing has the potential to change a life and can build character for the next generation!
“West Marine’s mission statement is to outfit, educate and inspire boaters,” said Ken Seipel, CEO of West Marine. “Partnering with US Sailing on this new Olympic-class series is a great opportunity to inspire both current Olympic hopefuls as well as young athletes about to enter the sport with dreams of standing on the podium.”
The West Marine US Open Sailing Series offers an increase in high-quality Olympic-class racing for U.S. athletes with a long-term goal of attracting top-level international competitors to race in these regattas for years to come.
BRISTOL, R.I. (January 11, 2021) – US Sailing and host yacht clubs at spectacular sailing venues in Florida and California are thrilled to launch a new U.S. based racing and training series of Olympic-class regattas in 2021.
The West Marine US Open Sailing Series offers an increase in high-quality Olympic-class racing for U.S. athletes with a long-term goal of attracting top-level international competitors to race in these regattas for years to come.
US Sailing and the larger community of sailors in the U.S. has identified a strong demand for a racing and training platform based in the United States that serves to provide a runway to the Olympic Games for prospective athletes. With the 2028 LA Olympics on the distant horizon, it is essential for US Sailing to establish a consistent and predictable cycle for athletes to plan for on an annual basis.
US Sailing and event organizers are honored to have West Marine as the title sponsor for the new series. For more than 50 years, West Marine has been the premier retailer of sailing, boating, fishing, and paddling gear. The company is committed to providing the local sailing community and all boaters with the highest quality products and expert service, all while inspiring a new generation. West Marine has a long-standing history of supporting the sport of sailing with a focus on youth and young sailors who aspire to reach new heights.
“West Marine’s mission statement is to outfit, educate and inspire boaters,” said Ken Seipel, CEO of West Marine. “Partnering with US Sailing on this new Olympic-class series is a great opportunity to inspire both current Olympic hopefuls as well as young athletes about to enter the sport with dreams of standing on the podium.”
This series of regattas allows US Sailing to provide more support for sailors at these events through advanced and in-person coaching, training, and data collection. The series will become an important part of the training plans for young sailors participating as part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP), a US Sailing initiative supported by the AmericaOne Foundation that provides world-class coaching support to promising American youth sailors competing in high-performance classes.
2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series:
January 15-18: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Lauderdale Yacht Club
January 21-24: Miami, Florida
Miami Yacht Club Youth Sailing Foundation
February 4-7: Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater Yacht Club, Clearwater Community Sailing Center, Tampa Bay Charities, Sail Life
June 11-13: San Diego, California
San Diego Yacht Club
July 9-11: Long Beach, California
Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, Long Beach Yacht Club, US Sailing Center Long Beach
August 13-15: San Francisco, California
St. Francis Yacht Club, Treasure Island Sailing Center, San Francisco Yacht Club, Richmond Yacht Club
The yacht clubs and sailing organizations hosting these US Open Sailing Series events are the Organizing Authorities for each regatta.
“This series is a real game-changer for Olympic-class sailing in the U.S.,” said Leandro Spina, US Sailing Olympic Development Director. “The U.S. really needs an Olympic sailing platform like this, so prospective athletes at every level can race and train right here in the United States. We want to be more efficient and resourceful with our efforts to prepare our athletes for the Games and provide them with a tremendous experience.”
