Change coming from US Sailing

The challenge for a national federation is to be relevant to its constituents. For a sport as diverse as sailing, and for a country as large as the USA, the challenge for US Sailing is significant. Charlie Enright, who now leads the organization, provides this update:

As I mark 100 days as CEO of US Sailing, I want to take a moment to reflect, report, and recommit—to you, to our mission, and to the future of sailing in the United States.

This past May, my career pivoted. I went from being a professional sailor into the role of Chief Executive Officer at US Sailing. Why? Because, for 15 years I worked toward one personal goal – to win The Ocean Race. Thanks to the help of many others along the way, we were able to achieve that goal.

Shortly after our victory, I entered a period of reflection and kept asking myself: what is next? Where do you go after summiting your own personal Everest? The more I thought about it, the more a couple things stood out. I love teams. I love purpose. I love things that are difficult and complex. And, most importantly, I love sailing.

Sailing has given me so much. It has helped me build a community full of lifelong partners, supporters, and friends. It has taken me around the world three times. It has introduced me to a wife and is subsequently responsible for my two wonderful children – who are now enjoying the sport of sailing in their own way, as little Opti groms and weekend cruisers.

Above all, the sport of sailing has helped me grow – as a person, as a leader, as a husband, as a father and as a teammate.

I got into sailing thanks to my late grandfather, Clint Pearson, a boat builder in Bristol, Rhode Island. Now, I have the privilege of leading US Sailing, the sport’s National Governing Body, right here in that very same town.

In these first few months as CEO, I’ve had the privilege of listening. I’ve heard what inspires you—and what frustrates you. I’ve witnessed the dedication that defines the sailing community and the passion that powers our sport.

Along with our team, I have taken a hard and honest look at US Sailing: who we are, how we operate, and most importantly, how we serve you, our members and the broader sailing community.

Sailing is evolving; so are the needs of our programs, our partners, and our next generation of sailors. From the youth pipeline to Olympic performance, safety standards to the rules, education to offshore, umpires and judges to race officers, regatta support to club services — we have a responsibility to lead with excellence, transparency, and impact.

It is clear: for US Sailing to remain relevant, we must change.

That is why we are making key organizational adjustments aimed at strengthening our foundation and modernizing the way we work. This includes regaining financial stability, streamlining operations, redefining our US Olympic Sailing ecosystem, and coordinating our resources with strategic priorities to help us deliver our core initiatives more effectively.

All these efforts align directly with the mission of US Sailing to “Increase sailing participation and excellence through education, competition, and equal opportunity, while upholding the principles of fair play, sportsmanship and safety.”

Change, while necessary, is never easy. We believe these steps are critical to building a stronger, more responsive, and more forward-looking US Sailing—one that’s not only fit for today’s challenges but positioned for long-term success.

We’re committed to being more communicative and accountable. In the coming weeks, you’ll hear more about these changes—and how they will positively impact us.

I will lead with integrity, listen with humility, and act with purpose. Change won’t happen overnight, but it will happen—because it must.

This is a pivotal time for our organization—and for the future of sailing in the United States. We ask for your continued trust and partnership as we do this work. Your feedback, your involvement, and your passion are essential to our collective success.

Let’s move forward—together.

See you on the water!

Charlie Enright
US Sailing, CEO