About Me...

1. About Me... • The Northwest has always • been my home • I have a vested interest • and deep love for the area • Intimate knowledge of the area and an existing network of sailors, coaches, and leaders in the PNW

2. Where I started -Cal 40 “White Squall” -Scholarship recipient in TYC’s Learn to Sail program -Learning the hard way in my own 14’ dinghy -I had a love of sailing BEFORE I had a love of racing

3. When it all started to click Western Washington University (2005-2010) -Part of a Competitive Team/Talented District -Great Mentors -Leadership Opportunities -Friends for Life Balboa Yacht Club (2010 & 2011) -Exposure to SoCal Model (SCYYRA, CISA, SDYC, NHYC) -First Significant Time Spent away from PNW -Finn Sailing

4. Encinal Yacht Club A “Bigger Small Club” -A History of Jr. Sailing Excellence Steady Growth and Competitiveness -Learn to Sail -HS Sailing (Miramonte 10th, Athenian 20th) -Race Team Participation and National Appearances Expansion of Programs -Green Guppies, J24 Keelboats, JV High School Teams, Athenian PE Class, Tuesday Night Team Racing, Collaboration with Artemis Racing

5. Establishing a Culture of Fun and Success -Family Oriented -Community Outreach -Affiliation with Local High School/College Teams -Dedicated Volunteers and Supportive Membership -Strong Working Relationship with BAYS Clubs -Traditions -Opportunities for Personal Growth & Advancement within the Program -Home Grown Instructional Staff (MENTORING!)

6. Duties and Responsibilities -Manage administrative aspects of junior sailing -Maintain fleet of 90 sailboats and 10 coach boats -Oversee a staff of approx. 15 employees -Host Regattas and Events (including PRO duty) -Fundraise and organize volunteers -Head coach for High School Sailing and Senior Race Teams (local regattas, national regattas, regular practices) -Represent EYC on the BAYS Board -Advertise and market the program

7. Winner 2013 Nimitz Award

8. Two Tricky Questions How do we grow the base and increase youth involvement? How can we raise the caliber of sailing in the PNW and be more competitive at a national level?

9. Both are Interrelated Questions 1 National Champion, Olympian, or All-American 10 Local/Regional Champions High School and College Sailing (Many start here, but won’t make it to the top) 200 400 Beginning Racers 2000 Beginners

10. A Healthy Sailing Cycle Learn to Sail Coaches/ High School/ Instructors Youth Racing College Sailing

11. What’s Missing Here? -Decline in NW College Sailing, which leads to a lack of qualified coaches (esp. those with technical skills) -Lack of Professional Opportunities for avid sailors (ex. Sailing Director or Coaching career paths) -Too many learn to sail programs on life support, most also lack race teams -Not enough cross training in high(er) performance boats

12. What’s Going Right? • High School Sailing is Booming! • A lot of talented volunteers investing time with NWISA • Busy and vibrant • regatta schedule • New teams are • appearing every year • BUT...

13. Where do talented HS Sailors end up? • Move away during college years • -For many NWICSA is not an attractive option • Burned out on sailing/lose out to other competing interests as they get older • Not being groomed as coaches or mentored as leaders. • Too many just sail during the school year creating a lack of junior racers in the Laser, 420, 29er class etc. • Sailors who start sailing in HS (or college) often lack the foundation to advance to the highest levels

14. How do we help restore the cycle? • Strengthen NWICSA • Support Existing and Emerging Youth Programs • Develop Quality Coaches Locally • Revamp NWYRC & Support Top Youth Sailors

15. Where should we focus our energy? • Strengthen NWICSA

16. 1. Strengthen NWICSA • Work with teams to recruit sailors • Provide guest coaching at regional/local clinics • Help teams with fundraising/asset acquisition • Establish alumni networks and rally the NWICSA alum base • Provide regatta management support • Work on NWICSA’s image problem • Serve as NWICSA travel coach for teams that qualify for national events.

17. Where should we focus our energy? • Strengthen NWICSA • Support Existing and Emerging Youth Programs

18. 2. Target Specific Programs • Which programs are already successful? (Ex. SSP, WSC, SYC, Sail Orcas) Help those organizations become even better! • Identify which programs are emerging and have real potential (ex. CYC Seattle, GJS, BYC, TYC, Gig Harbor). Lend them a blueprint to help achieve their goals. • Provide staff training, consultation, guest coaching and logistical support

19. 5 Traits of Successful Programs 1) Provide Learn to Sail for kids and teens 2) Affiliation with local high school/college teams 3) Dedicated volunteer(s) 4) Professional Director and/or Coaching Staff 5) Adequate Facilities and Resources

20. Learn to Sail Essentials • Outreach through Community • Orgs., Schools, etc. • Involve the whole family • Provide opportunity for personal • growth and advancement within the program • Make it FUN! Especially at a young age!

21. Affiliation with HSand College Teams • Provide access to boats and facilities • Provide coaching and travel support if feasible • Don’t try to make money off these groups! • Enlist students as volunteers, instructors, or crew. • Keep them around in the summer too!

22. Volunteer(s) • Maintain continuity and keep vision in place as personnel turn-over • Should be highly visible and well respected within the organization • Serve as advocates and defenders of youth activities and staff. • Skilled at fundraising and directing other volunteers • Even better if they don’t have a child in the program!

23. Professional Director or Coaching Staff • Provide year round sailing opportunities • Surround themselves with other talented staff and recruit new coaches from existing ranks. • Maintain fleets and upgrade equipment as needed • Manage administrative aspects of a sailing program • Build and sustain relationships with sailors over time • Advertise, promote, and fundraise

24. Facilities and Resources • Fleet of one-designs suitable for youth racing (esp. double-handed) • Adequate safety boats given the venue, skill level, and number of participants. • Easy waterfront access and storage space • Able and willing to host regattas, trainings, clinics etc. • 501(c)3 Foundation in place to help meet financial goals.

25. Where should we focus our energy? • Strengthen NWICSA • Support Existing and Emerging Youth Programs • Develop Quality Coaches Locally

26. Develop Quality Coaches Locally • Identify Coaches to Invest in • Provide professional development opportunities • -Encourage programs to offer pay incentives for Level II/III • -Provide Grants when needed to attend US Sailing trainings or the yearly US Sailing Symposium • Do in house staff trainings for programs and universities • Improve technical knowledge of coaches, especially those with only HS/College experience • Establish network to link programs with coaches

27. Benefits of “Home Grown” Instructors • They are a known commodity • Likely to return for future summers • Especially if they have strong ties to program • Role models and mentors for future instructors • “I used to be a junior sailor just like you.” • Understand culture/expectations from day one. • They were probably a part of it already as a participant

28. Where should we focus our energy? • Strengthen NWICSA • Support Existing and Emerging Youth Programs • Develop Quality Coaches Locally • Revamp NWYRC & Support Top Sailors

29. 3. Revamp the NWYRC • Host quality events and clinics • Put emphasis on cumulative results, by adopting better scoring criteria and series guidelines. Keep overall results real time! • Encourage more participation in the Opti, Laser, 420, and 29er class. Get HS sailors cross-training! • Boats shouldn’t it unused! Work with clubs to put HS Sailors in their 420s and Lasers during the summer. • NWRYC needs to have a presence year-round (as do the classes above), especially for younger sailors like those in the Opti. • Create cooperation and collaboration between programs, not just competition!

30. Bay Area Youth Sailing (BAYS) • Association of clubs working together to promote youth sailing (Richmond, Encinal, St. Francis, SFYC, PYSF) • Monthly conference calls, joint planning, coordinating, and scheduling sessions • Host Clinics/Provide Coaching at Major Regattas • Host local regattas, sometimes together • Opti Winter BAYS series, Summer BAYS Series, NorCal High School League • Regional liaison with US Sailing, PCISA, USODA etc.

31. Invest In Our Top Youth Athletes • Provide coaching and travel support for national level events • Ease financial burden of programs and individual sailors by traveling as a group. (Purchase large trailer/tow vehicle???) • Hold advanced clinics for elite youth sailors, especially at venues like the Gorge during the summer. • Train with top athletes during offseason, including off the water workouts, rigging sessions, and chalk talks • Sail against the best competition we can find, both locally and on the road. • Host major youth events. Rarely are we the “home team” at national regattas. This needs to change!

32. Where should we focus our energy? • Strengthen NWICSA • Support Existing and Emerging Youth Programs • Develop Quality Coaches Locally • Revamp NWYRC & Support Top Youth Sailors

33. A Healthy Sailing Cycle Learn to Sail Coaches/ High School/ Instructors Youth Racing College Sailing

34. Sailing Foundation Director’s Calendar Summer NWYRC SpringFallNational Champs NWICSA Jr. Program Prep. Fall Opti Series? ClinicsWinter Travel with Top Athletes Work on Developing Coaches Summer Scheduling