The inaugural US Sailing Youth National Team camp brought together more than 40 youth athletes and world-class coaches at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island, from June 12-16. Over five intensive days, the camp laid the groundwork for the upcoming summer competition season, including National and World Championship regattas.
Youth athletes sailed in the ILCA 6, i420, and 29er classes throughout the training camp. Each day kicked off with a morning workout, followed by coach briefings and focused on-water sessions. Sailors shared meals in the RWU dining hall and bunked in the RWU Bayside Apartments, building camaraderie and forging bonds among America’s next generation of high-performance sailing talent.
“The dynamic created at our YNT Camp is exactly what this country needs. Sailors hailing from Seattle to Seawanaka put club rivalries aside and united as one National Team for a week of deliberate training with expert coaches,” said Youth Performance Manager Phil Muller. “I’m extremely proud of the respect and effort given by each athlete at the camp. Everyone rose to the occasion with a great sense of purpose and drive to achieve more.
Most of our athletes this week joined us in preparation for peak World Championship events this summer. If they maintain the level displayed on the water this week and focus on the details that matter, from this coach’s eye, the team is ready.”
The coaching lineup was stacked with talent, led by David Bargehr, Kelly Cole, Richard Feeny, Pedro Mascarenhas, Olympian Stu McNay, Phil Muller, John Pearce, Olympic Bronze Medalist Stefano Peschiera, Sophia Reineke, Grant “Fuzz” Spanhake, and Olympian Anna Weis.
Special guest speakers elevated the experience each day, including SailGP USA CEO Mike Buckley, American Racing Challenger CEO Ken Read, Olympic Bronze Medalist Stefano Peschiera, SailGP USA Grinder Anna Weis, and a panel of collegiate coaches featuring Ali Blumenthal, Amanda Callahan, Joakim Karlsen, and Brittney Manning.
“Staying in the Roger Williams University dorms with the team is amazing and takes the camp to another level – it’s great for team building,” said John, one sailor at the camp. “The speakers like Mike Buckley and Anna Weis made me feel like pro sailing was a real, achievable opportunity.”
US Sailing Youth National Team members are selected annually based on performance at class Midwinters East and Midwinters West Championships held in January through March each year. The team is composed of the top American youth athletes, under age 19, in the Youth Worlds Classes, which include the iQFOiL, Formula Kite, ILCA 6, Nacra 15, 29er, and i420.
Through the Youth National Team, athletes receive training and competition support guided by US Sailing, including training camps, performance resources, and coaching at select World Championship regattas. The pathway culminates in the Youth Sailing World Championships in December.
“We are so impressed by the hard work of these young athletes,” said John Pearce, US Sailing Youth Racing Director. “This camp is a new, immersive, residential format and it really brought the group together. This generation of sailors have tremendous potential and our goal is to create challenging training environments and build a team culture of hard work, belief, and American spirit.”
