Demonstrating their full potential

Once a superpower in Olympic Sailing, the USA has been on the descent for the past two decades. US Sailing appointed Paul Cayard in March 2021 to lead the turnaround, but that relationship imploded two years later. Cayard, with the same commitment to support US athletes in their pursuit of excellence, launched a new organization.

America One Racing (A1R), as the largest private financial supporter of elite USA sailors, pivoted in 2023 to a hands-on organization with coaches and training plans. A1R identified athletes worth supporting, and gave them more support than the national team previously provided. It was a bet on USA excellence, and that bet is starting to pay off.

This was a pretty good week for USA in two of the ten Olympic events:

• Charlotte Rose won the 2026 ILCA 6 Women’s World Championship held September 7-12 in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. Rose becomes only the third American sailor to win the title, following Paige Railey USA in 2005. She’s also the first non-European winner in 20 years, since Lijia Xu (CHN) claimed the title in 2006, breaking a European hold on the championship that had lasted two decades. – Details

• Barcelona 1992 was the last Olympics when an American man won a windsurfing medal, but Paris 2024 Olympian Noah Lyons is working hard to change that, finishing second at the 2026 iQFOiL Men’s World Championship on September 7-12 in Weymouth-Portland, GBR. Lyons led for much of the event, with teammate Makani Andrews chasing in 18th. Also making progress toward the podium was Dominique Stater, finishing 20th in the women’s fleet. – Details

“We’re so happy to see our athletes able to demonstrate their full potential,” shared Cayard. “It takes a village and thankfully we have great supporters who believe.”

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

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