Why You Should Attend Sailing Leadership Forum 2014

Fresh perspectives and new ideas on how to improve and grow our sport.

February 6-8, 2014
Hilton San Diego Resort
Register Today!

What the Sailing Leadership Forum is all about?
One of the biggest challenges the sport of sailing faces is connecting sailors to each other. We have learned that there is a good deal of common issues and shared goals with all types of sailors.

This groundbreaking event will connect leaders from all aspects of our sport for the first time to share ideas and best practices on how to navigate through the issues and challenges facing our sport in the 21st Century.

The forum will combine programming from US Sailing”s National Sailing Program Symposium, One-Design Symposium and Yacht Club Summit into one event!

The Leadership Forum will consist of three fun and captivating days of keynote speakers, presentations, seminars, panel discussions, and break-out sessions that will provide attendees with a fresh perspective and new ideas on how to strengthen and grow our sport.

Presentations will focus on a number of relevant topics, including Developing Programs, Marketing & Communications, Administration & Management, Regattas & Racing, Growing the Sport, and Rules & Officials.

The forum will equip the attendees with new concepts, programs to implement, solutions to their challenges, confirmation of their current plans, and a lot of new friends and resources to tap into.

Who will benefit from the forum?
All one-design and offshore sailors, Instructors, coaches, race officers, program directors, class/fleet leaders, yacht club management, organization leaders, industry professionals, and volunteers will find key takeaways from this pioneering event.

Why attend if you are a sailor in the education, training, cruising community?
The Sailing Leadership Forum will feature National Sailing Program Symposium (NSPS) presentations, seminars, panel discussions, and break-out discussions moderated by subject experts and targeted to the constituents in the sailing education, training, cruising, and program development field. Here is a sample of relevant topics to be in focus on at the forum:

  • Building a Successful Junior Program – Curriculum to Class Offerings
  • Adult Learn to Sail Programs – Attracting New Members and Energizing Your Current Members
  • The Business of REACH – STEM Education
  • Recruiting Adaptive Sailors – Adding a New Dimension to Your Program
  • Creating a Powerboat Program for All Ages
  • Junior Sailing – Beyond Regattas
  • Sell-Out Cruising Events: Mastering the Sailboat Sunflower
  • Millennial Generation Panel – Hear What They Want
  • SafeSport – Learn About the Nature of Misconduct in Sport and Actionable Information to Protect Your Athletes
  • What is Seamanship and why is it Important to Sailors Today?
  • Grant Writing 101 – Building a Strong Case for Foundation Support
  • Going Green – Sustainable Practices for Programs and Regattas
  • Frostbiting Your Sabot and Other Offseason Activities

Why attend if you are a one-design sailor?
The Sailing Leadership Forum will highlight learning opportunities customized for the one-design sailor, typically included at US Sailing’s One-Design Sailing Symposium. We have a well-developed line-up of presentations, seminars, panel discussions, and break-out discussions moderated by subject experts. Here is a sample of sessions tailored for one-design sailors:

  • Classes/Fleets – How to Grow Them, How to Keep Them Strong
  • Go-Fast – Boat Tuning
  • Race Management Excellence and Technology – It’s not Just for the America’s Cup
  • Regatta Safety – Planning, Operation and Emergency Response
  • Running Fun Races – Non-Traditional Regattas
  • Organizing a Great Regatta – Learn the Secrets of Successful Events
  • Building Race Management Resources at Your Club
  • Implementing an Offshore Safety & Preparedness Plan
  • Simplify Your Offshore Sailing: USSR (US Safety Equipment Requirements)
  • Print vs. Electronic Newsletters
  • Sailor Fitness
  • Fiberglass & Gelcoat Repair

Why attend if you are interested in big boat and offshore sailing?
The forum will present several topics for discussion on relevant issues facing the offshore/big boat sailing community. Subject experts will be on hand to provide insight and share first-hand observations on their experiences in the areas of safety, PHRF, race administration, technology, and more. Here is a sample of sessions tailored for offshore/big boat sailors:

  • Simplify Your Offshore Sailing: USSR (US Safety Equipment Requirements)
  • Implementing an Offshore Safety & Preparedness Plan
  • Success with PHRF – Growing Your Fleet
  • Offshore Race Administration – Adjusting Your Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions for Offshore Distance Races
  • Race Management Excellence and Technology – It’s not Just for the America’s Cup
  • Sell-Out Cruising Events – Mastering the Sailboat Sunflower
  • Coast Guard – Racing Inshore/Offshore Events, Being Proactive Before its Required
  • What is Seamanship and why is it Important to Sailors Today?

Why attend if you are interested in learning how to market, promote and communicate your programs, events and services?
Attendees will learn new, innovative ideas on how to more effectively and efficiently promote their programs. Topics include social media, regatta websites, print and electronic newsletters, branding, and sponsorship. Here is a sample of marketing related sessions:

  • Social Media 101 – What are the Options and Where Should we be?
  • Social Media 201 – Using it Effectively and Engaging Your Audience
  • Print vs. Electronic Newsletters – Finding the Best Way to Communicate with Members
  • Maintaining and Sustaining Your Brand Identity – Creative Ways to Increase Your Visibility in the Community
  • Pitch Perfect – How to Sell Sponsorships
  • Sponsorship Case Studies – Creating the Win-Win
  • Where is Your Regatta Website? Making Your Regatta Website Great
  • Homepage Must-Haves and Other Website Tips
  • Public Relations: Make Your Story Matter

Why attend if you are interested in growing your fleet, class, club or organization?
Growing the sport is a common challenge for all of us. Here is a sample of relevant topics that will give attendees the knowledge they need to implement at their local sailing organization:

  • Growing Membership and Increasing Participation in Your Club
  • Making Sailing Accessible – Diversifying Through Outreach
  • Lowering the Average Age of your Sailors – Attracting Youth and Keeping Them Engaged
  • Bringing the Bottom Up – 20 Coaching Strategies for Larger Fleets
  • Building Aligning Motivating Your Organization – The Role of Clubs in Developing Sailors
  • Keep those Boats in the Water – Integrating High School Sailing to your Organization
  • Fleet & Club-Owned Boats Selection – Right Fit for Your Club
  • Success with PHRF – Growing Your Fleet

Why attend if you are interested in discussions pertaining to best practices in management and administration?
Our subject experts will dive into the details of important matters for organizations including government relations, insurance, recruiting and hiring, and emergency action plans. Here is a sample of relevant topics in this field:

  • Recruiting, Hiring, Retaining & Motivating Staff
  • How to Make Your Non-profit Flourish – Structure and Strategy
  • Anyone Can Be a Boss, Can You Be a Leader? Focusing and Inspiring Volunteers
  • Emergency Action Plans – What You Need to Know
  • Collaborations – Community & Club
  • Financial Benchmarking & Yacht Club Survey Data
  • Helping Sailors Succeed in Spite of their Parents
  • Government Regulations – OSHA, Transporting Students, Interfacing with the Coast Guard
  • Making Smart Insurance Decisions

Why attend if you are a sailor in the racing rules and officials community?
Discuss the rules and every day challenges and issues in race management that affect Race Officials on and off the water. Here is a sample of the sessions that will appeal to race officers, judges, and umpires:

  • Organizing, Training & Motivating a Strong Race Committee Group: Pulling It All Together
  • Race Officials at a Youth Event: Making It Safe, Fair and FUN!
  • The Rules in the Electronic Age: Technological Innovations, their Advantages and their Pitfalls
  • Judges’ Roundtable: An Informal Discussion – BYO Questions and Problems
  • Race Officers’ Roundtable: An Informal Discussion – BYO Questions and Problems
  • Intriguing and Useful Appeals and Cases: What Racing Sailors and Race Officials Need to Know
  • Offshore Race Administration: Adjusting Your Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions for Offshore Distance Races

Register and learn more about the Sailing Leadership Forum 2014.

* Presentation topics and speakers subject to change.