US Sailing unveils 2025–2028 Strategic Plan to strengthen, grow, and elevate the sport nationwide

US Sailing © US Sailing

US Sailing, the National Governing Body for the sport of sailing and the Member National Authority of World Sailing in the United States, today announced the release of its 2025-2028 Strategic Plan.

Developed through an inclusive, community-driven process involving sailors, coaches, volunteers, partners, and staff across the country, the plan paves a bold path for growing participation, enhancing member value, and achieving competitive excellence on the world stage.

The new strategic plan reflects a shared vision to elevate sailing at every level—from national grassroots participation to Olympic performance—while ensuring the sport remains safe, fair, and accessible.

"As the governing body for American sailing, our role is to both steward the sport and empower the people who make it thrive," said Charlie Enright, US Sailing Chief Executive Officer. "This plan charts our course toward a vibrant, interconnected future where sailors of every age and ambition can grow, compete, and find community."

A vision for the future of American Sailing

The 2025-2028 Strategic Plan is anchored in a mission to "Grow American sailing and achieve Olympic excellence through education, competition, and community." Its foundation is built on US Sailing's core values—Serve with Purpose, Act with Integrity, Inspire Connection, and Lead Together—principles shared across every corner of the sailing community.

At the heart of the plan are three strategic pillars:

1. Drive Operational Excellence
   Strengthen organizational capacity and financial stability to deliver excellence across programs, services and stakeholder engagement.

2. Inspire the Sailing Community
   Attract and engage the sailing community through meaningful experiences that inspire participation, connection and lifelong engagement.

3. Succeed on the World Stage
   Leverage the United States' strengths to develop a continuous pipeline of world-class athletes, driving greater international success with momentum toward consistent elite performance.

To bring the plan to life, US Sailing will focus on:

• Modernizing member experiences and expanding digital learning and training tools
• Deepening partnerships with clubs, classes, and community organizations
• Strengthening the national athlete pipeline through collaboration across the high-performance ecosystem
• Empowering Team USA at the LA28 Olympic Games
• Investing in technology and organizational capacity to support efficient, high-quality service delivery

A stronger, more connected future

This strategic plan sets the foundation for a thriving future in which American sailing is more inclusive, more competitive, and more connected than ever before. By aligning community engagement, athlete development, and operational excellence, US Sailing aims to ensure long-term success that extends well beyond 2028.

"This plan belongs to the entire sailing community," Enright added. "Together, we will shape a stronger future for the sport and create opportunities for sailors everywhere to learn, grow, and excel."

US Sailing would like to thank our external stakeholders for their meaningful collaboration and thoughtful input during our strategic planning process. This key group strengthened the quality of our work and helped ensure that the plan reflects the needs and aspirations of the entire sailing community.

External Stakeholders:

• Paul Callahan, Chief Executive Officer at Sail to Prevail & 2x Paralympian (2000, 2012)
• Chad Corning, Program Manager at Argo Racing
• Tom Duggan, Principal Race Officer
• Farley Fontenot, Founder of Quantum Sails
• Fred Hagedorn, Panam Sailing President and World Sailing Council Member
• Clare Harrington, Incoming Commodore at New York Yacht Club
• Steve Hunt, Professional Sailor and Coach
• Brad Read, Executive Director at Sail Newport
• Dawn Riley, Executive Director at Oakcliff Sailing Center
• Briana Sealre, Olympian (2016)
• Stephanie Webb, Director of Programs & Community Sailing at Edison Sailing
• Greg Wilkinson, President of the Intercollegiate Sailing Association