Need to promote big kids in sailing

by Craig Leweck, Scuttletbutt Sailing News
It’s hard for the USA to do well in the Olympic sailing events when the boats and boards are not widely used, if at all, in the country. That has been one of the theories, and the challenges is mostly true about the equipment.

But the argument collapses for two events – the Men’s and Women’s One Person Dinghy. The ILCA 6 and 7 Classes are popular in North America, yet the USA still struggles.

After five races, the 2026 ILCA 7 Men’s World Championship completed the qualifying stage, and no one from the USA made the Gold Flight to compete for the title. Four Americans are in Silver. Six are in Bronze.

Maybe this makes sense when the American focus for youth development is toward school sailing in industrial-strength doublehanders. These boats like smaller people, and anyone big enough for an ILCA is at a disadvantage.

Since kids now play within their age-range, the singlehanded development path is limited, and bigger kids may pursue other sports in which their body type is equally well-suited but more appreciated.

If you combine height and weight, the United States is among the largest-bodied populations in the world. The nation has the candidates, but does it have the appetite to promote the big kids in sailing?

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Sailing Program (July 16-28):
First Week – July 16-20
Men’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class – Long Beach, CA
Women’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class – Long Beach, CA
Men’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL – Long Beach, CA
Women’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL – Long Beach, CA

Second Week – July 23-28
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7 – Los Angeles, CA
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6 – Los Angeles, CA
Mixed Two Person Dinghy – 470 – Los Angeles, CA
Men’s Skiff – 49er – Los Angeles, CA
Women’s Skiff – 49erFX – Los Angeles, CA
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17 – Los Angeles, CA

For more details, click here.