Happy New Year from US Sailing!

From all of us at US Sailing, we hope that you are having a wonderful holiday season. We are finishing up a busy and productive year, and want to take a moment to thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our organization that has enabled us to progress on many fronts.

In 2015 we engaged more with sailors and local sailing organizations to better understand their needs and develop more alignment across this very diverse sport. We continued to evolve our core programs to take advantage of technology and address the changing nature of how people sail and spend their time. And we began implementing new strategies and plans to support youth sailing and build sailing participation, two elements that are critical for the health and future of sailing.

As we close a successful year, our course is laid for 2016. It promises to be a busy year with great events, new programs and initiatives, and a refined focus on our part to serve and support you, our members. The Olympic Trials start in Miami at the Sailing World Cup on January 25, launching the final leg to the Olympic and Paralympic Games next August and September. The Sailing Leadership Forum takes place in early February, and will bring together sailing leaders from across the country to network and learn. We plan to kick off several new programs there, including our SAP project and a collaborative, grass roots initiative to grow sailing across the country.

Throughout the year our staff and volunteers will be spending a great deal of time on the waterfront supporting events and sailing organizations, and continuing to enhance our programs and services to help you get the most of your time on the water. Stay tuned.

Thank you again for your generous contributions to US Sailing and our sport – as members, as volunteers, as parents, and as participants. We wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016, and hope you enjoy plenty of time on the water with family and friends in the New Year.

Best Regards,

Jack Gierhart
Executive Director of US Sailing