Enright and Towill to Share Story of USA Volvo Ocean Race Entry at Sailing Leadership Forum 2016

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Charlie Enright (left) and Mark Towill (right). Photo by Amory Ross/Team Alvimedica.

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (September 17, 2015) – Charlie Enright and Mark Towill, the youngest contestants and leaders of the American entry in the 2014-2015 Volvo Ocean Race, will share the inside story of their first around-the-world campaign as featured presenters at the Sailing Leadership Forum 2016, hosted by US Sailing at the Hilton San Diego on February 4-6.

Enright and Towill, co-founders of Team Alvimedica, will deliver a keynote presentation on the genesis of their fascinating Volvo Ocean Race team. The pair will discuss the partnerships they made, resources they utilized, how they built the team, and the many lessons learned throughout their journey. They will also reveal their plans for the 2017-18 edition of sailing’s ocean marathon.

“Our first Volvo Ocean Race provided a steep learning curve on all aspects of performance,” said Enright, 31, the youngest skipper in the race. “Before even thinking about succeeding in the race, we first had to identify and develop the crew, manage the team, the resources, timeline, and sponsor commitments. This management exercise relates directly to performance and we achieved some significant milestones on the water such as first to Cape Horn. The team building process and seeing the team come together as a unit was probably the most rewarding aspect of the last race. We plan to build on that for the next time.”

“The Volvo Ocean Race is a race within a race – the first one is to the start line,” said Towill, 26, general manager and watch captain. “In many ways, the challenge to find a commercial partner is the toughest part of this global competition – well, except for the Southern Ocean.”

What is the Sailing Leadership Forum?

Sailing Leadership Forum 2016 offers a unique experience for leaders representing all areas of sailing to connect on important issues facing our sport. The Forum features a new line-up of insightful presentations that address the many relevant topics in sailing.

Individuals from sail training and education, yacht club and sailing organization leaders, race officials, and industry professionals will meet and learn from one-another in the surroundings of this spectacular Southern California venue.

The Sailing Leadership Forum will feature lively and fun social events, hands-on activities, exhibitor displays and demonstrations, pre- and post- forum clinics and seminars for instructor certification, race management, and much more.

All sailors have something in common – the importance of keeping sailing vibrant and strong for future generations of sailors.

Register and learn more about Sailing Leadership Forum 2016.

US Sailing Media Contact: Jake Fish, jakefish@ussailing.org

*Photo by Amory Ross/Team Alvimedica.

About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team Sperry. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.