US Sailing National Coaching Symposium 2026

Great three days at the US Sailing National Coaching Symposium 2026 at the Melges Watersports Center in Merritt Island, Florida.

I really enjoyed connecting with fellow coaches and program directors from all over the U.S. and exchanging perspectives on athlete development, coaching culture, and the future of our sport. Beyond the sessions themselves, many of the most valuable moments came from the side conversations and shared experiences within the coaching community.

One of the highlights was hearing Olympic Champion and Zhik CEO Mat Belcher speak about success in sport and the long-term impact of great coaching relationships. I also appreciated Erik Bowers’ insights into starting technique and performance mindset — lots of ideas to take back onto the water.

Coming from a Swiss/European coaching background, it was especially interesting to explore the differences in approach between Europe and the U.S. and think about how both systems can learn from each other. Excited to bring some of these perspectives into the upcoming season with New Wave Sailing.

Grateful to everyone involved in organizing such a valuable event — looking forward to continuing the conversations and seeing where the season takes us.

Thank you to US Sailing/US Sailing Team, Melges Watersports Center, John Pearce, Phil Muller and all the coaches and speakers who made these past few days so valuable.