When our sailors line up to race, they carry the weight of that preparation and the honor of racing for their country. Performance is personal, but representation is national. Backed by American Magic, the Schoonmaker Foundation, the Sailing Foundation of New York and the St. Francis Sailing Foundation: this is Project Podium. This is America One Racing. This is how we prepare to compete.

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Every time the American flag is raised on an international starting line, it represents far more than a single race. On January 29, get a glimpse into a day inside Project Podium, America One Racing’s high-performance training initiative on a mission to put U.S. sailors atop the Olympic podium in 2028. It begins the way meaningful work always does: early, quietly and with purpose. Long before the world watches, preparation is underway. What you see is discipline earned through repetition. Coaching built on trust. Athletes who understand the responsibility of representing the United States. Across multiple sailing classes, these athletes train not for attention, but for accountability…knowing every decision matters when competing against the best in the world.

The boats may look different, but the purpose has not changed. Olympic-level sailing has always been about using tightly controlled equipment to expose judgment, discipline and decision-making under pressure. The goal is not novelty; it is clarity. Technology is meant to enable performance - not decide winners. What has changed is the pace. Where earlier classes rewarded patience and tactical subtlety, today’s one-design boats and boards demand those same skills…only faster, more physically, and with no room to hide. Foiling classes like iQFOiL and Formula Kite are not a break from tradition; they are its logical extension.

A1R exists because this moment requires structure. Modern Olympic-level sailing demands professional coaching, shared resources and disciplined pathways that mirror what works at the highest level of the sport. Talent alone is no longer enough. Project Podium is built to identify the right athletes, put them in the right equipment and prepare them to perform when it counts. The 2028 Olympic cycle is already underway. And with the Games in our own country, these athletes are especially committed. The question is whether we are prepared to match that commitment and ensure American sailors remain competitive on the world stage.

Naples Yacht Club A1R Evening January 2026

By The Sailing Foundation of New York

Naples Yacht Club A1R Evening January 2026