US Sailing

What US Sailing does

US Sailing (legally the United States Sailing Association) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island. It is the designated National Governing Body for the sport of sailing in the United States, recognized by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. The organization develops and administers the only nationally standardized certification system for sailors and instructors across small boat, keelboat, powerboat, windsurfing, and adaptive sailing disciplines, issuing certifications valid for three-year cycles. Its REACH STEM Education Initiative, launched in 2012, integrates sailing with science, technology, engineering, and math instruction and has reached over 350,000 youth at more than 1,000 schools, sailing centers, and yacht clubs. Additional product lines include national and youth championships, Junior Olympic Sailing Festivals, race official training, Safety at Sea courses, the International Proficiency Certificate, and the US Sailing Team and Olympic Development Program.

The core technology infrastructure consists of the First Tack online learning platform, the SOARS race official management system, and the US Sailing Bookstore app, supporting digital course delivery, certification tracking, and e-commerce for educational publications. Content is delivered through a nationwide network of over 1,500 annually certified Smallboat Instructors and Coaches operating at accredited sailing schools, yacht clubs, community sailing centers, camps, and recreation departments. The product portfolio is organized across education (youth and adult), recreation, competition, and team programs, with sub-brands including REACH, US Sailing Team, and US Powerboating (a wholly-owned subsidiary).

Revenue is generated through seven diversified streams: individual, organizational, and corporate membership dues; instructor and sailor certification and recertification fees; per-course registration fees ranging from $100 to $825; sales of course books and instructional materials via the US Sailing Store and Bookstore app; championship and event sanctioning fees; corporate sponsorships (with Pacific Life as Presenting Partner through 2028 and additional partners including Native Shoes and Engine); and tax-deductible donations through the US Sailing Foundation. Operating geographies are restricted to the United States, and financial scale (501-1,000 employees, 1,500+ instructors certified annually, 400+ leaders attending regional symposiums) is consistent with a mid-sized national sports governing body.

Name

US Sailing

Legal name

United States Sailing Association

Website

https://ussailing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

US Sailing is the U.S. National Governing Body for sailing, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that standardizes sailing education and instructor certification across five disciplines, delivers the REACH STEM curriculum to 350,000+ youth, and sanctions national championships and Olympic team programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Governance and Education

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

Keywords

• Sailing education
• Sailing certification
• Instructor training programs
• Youth sailing initiatives
• Regatta management

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: US Sailing generates revenue through individual, organizational, and corporate membership fees at various tiers with associated benefits and discounts on courses, materials, and events.
2. Instructor and Sailor Certification Fees: Revenue from certifying instructors (small boat, keelboat, powerboat, adaptive, windsurfing) and sailors through accredited schools and training programs. Certifications are valid for three years with recertification fees.
3. Course Registration Fees: Fees charged for instructor training courses (ranging from $100 to $825 per course depending on level), sailing counselor courses, adaptive sailing workshops ($500), and STEM educator courses ($225).
4. Educational Materials and Publications: Sale of course books, instructional manuals, certification record books (Little Red Book), Reach Educator Guides, and other sailing education materials through the US Sailing Store and app.
5. Championship and Event Sanctioning: Revenue from sanctioning and organizing national championships, youth championships, and regattas, including Junior Olympic Sailing Festivals and the US Open Sailing Series.
6. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Multi-year sponsorships from corporate partners such as Pacific Life (Presenting Partner through 2028), Native Shoes, Engine, and others providing financial support and brand partnerships.
7. Donations and Foundation Giving: The US Sailing Foundation accepts donations, planned gifts, and contributions supporting athlete development, youth programs, and sailing access initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

US Sailing operates as the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the United States, providing standardized sailing education, multi-level instructor and sailor certification across small boat, keelboat, powerboat, windsurfing, and adaptive disciplines, national championships and regatta sanctioning, the REACH STEM education initiative, and support for the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team. Revenue is generated through membership dues, certification and course fees, educational materials sales, event sanctioning, corporate sponsorships, and donations.

Product overview

US Sailing is the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the United States, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its product portfolio is structured as a multi-program platform centered on sailing education and certification across four disciplines: Small Boat, Keelboat, Powerboat, and Windsurfing/Adaptive Sailing. The core education system spans from beginner-level Learn to Sail programs through instructor certification at multiple levels (Sailing Counselor, Level 1-3 Instructor, Instructor Trainer), supported by the Teaching and Coaching Fundamentals Online prerequisite. The flagship REACH Program (STEM education initiative) combines sailing with science, technology, engineering, and math for middle school students. Competition products include US Sailing Championships across multiple classes, Junior Olympic Sailing Festivals, and the US Sailing Team Olympic Program. Supporting services include Race Officials Training, Safety at Sea Courses, International Proficiency Certificates, First Sail introductions, Community Sailing Accreditation, CourseBooks digital publications, and membership programs. Partnerships with Pacific Life (Presenting Partner through 2028), Engine (travel), and Native Shoes (footwear) support athlete and member benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• REACH: US Sailing's STEM Education Initiative combining science, technology, engineering, and math with sailing for middle school students. The program has engaged over 350,000 youth at over 1,000 schools, sailing centers, and yacht clubs since 2012.
• US Sailing Team
• US Powerboating

Products and services

• REACH STEM Education Program Flagship STEM education initiative with 17 curriculum modules combining science, technology, engineering, and math with sailing activities. Reaches over 350,000 youth at 1,000+ schools, sailing centers, and yacht clubs; modules are aligned to Common Core Math and Next Generation Science Standards. Used by community sailing centers, yacht clubs, and schools serving middle school students.
• Learn to Sail Programs Entry-level sailing education programs teaching fundamental skills through small boats, keelboats, and windsurfing. Delivered through 1,500+ Smallboat Instructors certified annually at sailing schools, yacht clubs, and community sailing centers for new and aspiring sailors.
• Small Boat Instructor Certification Programs Multi-level instructor certification pathway covering Sailing Counselor (2-day, ages 14+), Level 1 Instructor (online + 3-day in-person), Level 2 Instructor, Level 3 Coach, Level 3 Head Instructor, and Instructor Trainer. For individuals pursuing sailing instructor credentials.
• Keelboat Instructor Certification Programs Certification programs for keelboat instructors at accredited schools, including Basic Keelboat Instructor ($605), Performance Sailing Instructor ($550), Cruising and Coastal Navigation Instructor ($750), Coastal Passage Making Instructor ($825), Celestial Navigation, and Cruising Catamaran Instructor. For experienced keelboat sailing instructors.
• Adaptive Sailing Instructor Workshop Three-day, 25-hour workshop covering adaptive sailing program management for sailors with physical, intellectual, and vision impairments. Topics include facility requirements, safety, equipment adaptation, and volunteer training. Fee is $500 per person. For instructors entering adaptive sailing.
• Teaching and Coaching Fundamentals Online (TCFO) Online prerequisite course developed with the U.S. Olympic Committee providing foundational instructional practices for sailing instructors. Approximately 90 minutes in length and free to complete. Required for instructor certification.
• Safety at Sea Courses Safety training courses for sailors including Safety at Sea Planning and hands-on safety seminars, delivered through US Sailing accredited schools at locations nationwide. For sailors preparing for offshore and bluewater passage making.
• US Sailing Championships National competitive sailing events including Youth Championships, Adult Championships, Match Racing, Team Racing, Offshore Championships, Para Sailing Championships, and Wingfoil Championships spanning multiple sailing disciplines and classes.
• Junior Olympic Sailing Festival Youth sailing competition program for junior sailors across the United States, providing age-appropriate racing opportunities and pathways to competitive sailing.
• Race Officials Training and Certification Training and certification programs for Race Officers, Judges, Umpires, Measurers, and Classifiers ensuring quality, integrity, and consistency in sailboat racing from club racing through world championships.
• International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) Certification allowing U.S. sailors to charter boats in European waters by verifying their sailing proficiency to foreign operators.
• First Sail Program Introduction program for new adult sailors providing inspiration, getting started guidance, and sailing basics to encourage first-time sailing experiences through accredited First Sail locations.
• Community Sailing Accreditation Accreditation program providing grants, accreditation, and resources to support community sailing centers in the United States, promoting diversity and inclusion throughout the sport.
• CourseBooks Digital Publications Digital instructional publications including Learn Sailing Right Beginner/Intermediate, Small Boat Instructor Manuals, Basic Keelboat materials, Safe Powerboat Handling guides, and Reach Educator Guides. Sold through US Sailing Bookstore app and online access for instructors and students.
• Membership Program Individual, family, organizational, and corporate membership tiers providing access to certifications, member discounts, insurance programs, newsletters (American Sailor, The Medalist), and governance participation.
• US Sailing Team and Olympic Program National team programs including the U.S. Sailing Team for elite Olympic competitors, Olympic Development Program for emerging talent, and Youth Team for junior sailors. Manages athlete selection, training, and support for international competitions including the America's Cup.

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants in Reach increase STEM-based knowledge by an average of 15%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• Pacific LifeflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 July 2026Pacific Life named Presenting Partner of the US Sailing Team through 2028 in a landmark multi-year sponsorship. The partnership provides branding, digital media, event activations, hospitality events, and athlete storytelling support for US sailors, windsurfers, and kiteboarders competing internationally. It is described as one of the most significant sponsorship positions in American sailing.
• Native ShoescoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 June 2026Native Shoes named Official Footwear Partner of US Sailing and a Supporting Partner of the 2026 Marine Debris Challenge. US Sailing members receive 25% discount on full-price Native Shoes products during June. Partnership promotes waterway and coastline stewardship while supporting the sailing community through shared sustainability values.
• EnginecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 April 2026Three-year partnership with Engine, a travel management platform, making Engine the official travel booking provider for US Sailing through 2028. Partnership aims to improve operational efficiency and offer discounted hotel rates and travel benefits to US Sailing members.
• American Racing Challenger Team USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026Partnership associated with American Racing Challenger Team USA's campaign for the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup (2027). US Sailing supports youth development initiatives and expansion of opportunities for female sailors within the American sailing ecosystem.
• USA Fencing, US Squash, USA Cycling, USRowingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2025Five U.S. Olympic sports national governing bodies (including US Sailing) are forming a new marketing collective to pool commercial and media rights. The collective aims to increase sponsorship opportunities and share resources, with joint events and partnerships planned. US Rowing serves as the chair.
• Risk Strategies / Gowrie GroupsupportingOthersRisk Strategies (Gowrie Group) serves as the preferred insurance provider for US Sailing, offering liability insurance programs for US Sailing Certified Instructors and members with USCG licenses. Provides the 360 Coverage Pros Mariner Liability Insurance Program for certified instructors at US Sailing events and championships.
• US WindsurfingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS Windsurfing partners with US Sailing to support recreational and competitive windsurfers across the United States. US Sailing previously managed windsurfing instructor programs but has transitioned this responsibility to US Windsurfing.
• Mariners Learning SystemsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerUS Sailing partners with Mariners Learning System to provide US Sailing members access to U.S. Coast Guard Approved Captain's Licensing Courses, Virtual FCC Tests, and maritime training programs. US Sailing members receive a 10% discount on registration.
• First TacksupportingTechnology or IntegrationFirst Tack (firsttack.org) is US Sailing's online learning platform hosting courses such as Teaching and Coaching Fundamentals Online (TCFO) and Small Boat Level 1 Instructor online sections.
• Onondaga Yacht ClubsupportingOthersOnondaga Yacht Club in Liverpool, New York hosts youth sailing camp on Onondaga Lake using US Sailing's REACH STEM education program to teach children sailing skills and STEM concepts.
• U.S. Center for SafeSportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS Sailing is a member organization of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and incorporates the Center's Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Program (MAAPP), including required SafeSport training for instructors and mandatory reporting policies for adults working with minor athletes.
• National Association of Sports Officials (NASO)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNASO has partnered with US Sailing to offer a discounted membership for certified race officials that includes liability insurance.
• Sail1DesignsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerUS Sailing has partnered with Sail1Design to provide members access to their Job Board and Marketplace at a 15% discount, supporting instructor employment and sailing equipment transactions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• USRowing: US National Governing Body for rowing and a co-member (chair) of the five-NGB marketing collective alongside US Sailing. Operates the same nonprofit-NGB model: membership, certification, elite team, and collegiate pathways — making it a near-direct structural peer for benchmarking sponsorship and education-program economics.
• USA Fencing: US NGB for fencing and a partner in the five-NGB marketing collective. Comparable in size, member-based nonprofit structure, certification pathways, and Olympic-team operations to US Sailing.
• USA Cycling: US NGB for cycling, also a member of the five-NGB marketing collective. Operates an analogous membership-plus-certification-plus-team structure and is a relevant benchmark for sponsorship and member-revenue scaling.
• Australian Sailing: Australia's national sailing body, delivering discover-sail programs, instructor certification, national championships, and Olympic team pathways. Mirrors US Sailing's structure with the added emphasis on a national participation-discovery funnel comparable to REACH.
• US Squash: US NGB for squash and the fifth member of the marketing collective alongside US Sailing. Similar in size, governance, and member-based nonprofit model; useful peer for collective-pooled commercial-rights benchmarking.
• Sail Canada: Canada's national sailing federation, offering Learn-to-Sail, instructor certification, provincial club accreditation, and high-performance team development. Directly comparable in scale, mission, and certification-system model to US Sailing.
• Royal Yachting Association (RYA): The UK National Governing Body for sailing and boating, the RYA operates the same three-pillar model as US Sailing: instructor and sailor certification, accredited schools network, and elite competitive pathways. It is the closest international peer given its certification authority, training scheme, and national-team structure.
• Sailing New Zealand / Yachting New Zealand: New Zealand's national sailing body, focused on instructor certification, club affiliation, youth development, and Olympic campaigns. Comparable in operating model and certification-led distribution.

Broad incumbents

• World Sailing: The international federation governing the sport of sailing globally, of which US Sailing is a member National Authority. Provides rule governance, Olympic-class regulation, and event sanctioning — broader in scope and not a direct competitor to US Sailing's domestic activities.
• United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC): The umbrella organization that recognizes US Sailing as the National Governing Body for sailing. Provides centralized Olympic-program funding, governance oversight, and SafeSport/MAAPP compliance infrastructure relevant to all US NGBs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ussailing
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ussailing2
• Facebookfacebook.com/USSAILING
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/us-sailing
• Instagraminstagram.com/ussailing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about US Sailing