Sailing Toward a Brighter Future
- jacelynswenson
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Many of sailing's finest traveled to Annapolis Yacht Club this past weekend for the inaugural Sailing Foundation Summit, co-hosted by US Sailing and the AYC Foundation. Charlie Enright, US Sailing CEO, along with US Sailing President Henry Brauer and other members of the US Sailing Board, joined more than 30 individuals representing 18 yacht club and community foundations.
Sailing Foundation Summit attendees
The one-day Summit featured a packed agenda that focused on many of the challenges facing the sport and how foundations can fill and grow the pipeline while enriching their communities.
Highlights of the day included experts like David Rulien, Board Chair Sailing Foundation of Florida, leading a discussion on partnerships; AYC Rear Commodore Gary Jobson sharing his experiences in fundraising for the Sailing Hall of Fame, the 1983 America's Cup, and the Leukemia Cup regattas; and Andrew Dye, Esq. Associate at Webster, Chamberlain & Bean, LLP, addressing issues around foundation board governance. Four rapid-fire roundtable sessions on Scholarships and Grants, Marketing and Communications, Events and Donor Engagement, and Club and Community Opportunities rounded out the full day.
Club and Community Opportunities roundtable
Events and Donor Engagement roundtable
On the eve of the Summit, AYC Commodore Chris Bell welcomed Charlie Enright who spoke to a capacity crowd about insights gathered from his first six months at the helm and what's ahead for the sport. As the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the US and member national authority to world sailing, he shared what it's like to be in the room where decisions are made about battens in sails and other pressing issues surrounding the sport. The 2028 Olympics was top-of-mind for many attendees and he shared discussions around a shorter race format, what can be done at the local level to get more sailors on the podium, and the "28 for 28" promotion that will kick into high gear next spring.
Charlie Enright sharing insights about the LA Olympics in 2028.
This first-ever Sailing Foundation Summit was, by virtually all measures, a resounding success for: the sport; the Summit participants who left with action plans and a network of experts they can call on for support; and for the impact AYC Foundation is having in the local community and beyond. A win-win-win!
l to r: Vice Commodore Ted Kaczmarski, US Sailing CEO Charlie Enright, AYC Commodore Chris Bell, US Sailing President Henry Brauer, AYC Rear Commodore Gary Jobson, AYC Past Commodore Jonathan Bartlett