American Sailing in 2021: The Year in Review

2021 came and went and we have had quite the year. At the American Sailing Association, 2021 was a banner year where we worked through the barriers and obstacles of a pandemic.  Our schools and affiliates found a new way to do business and relied on the sailing lifestyle to drive the narrative of their year.  

Sailing is stronger than ever and this past year we have certified more sailors than in any previous year in our almost 40 years of educating new sailors.  

Looking back on 2021 this is how the American Sailing Association continued to be the world leader in sailing education and stewardship.

Highlights of 2021

• American Sailing Unveiled. American Sailing Association announced a new brand and we changed our name to “American Sailing”, dropping the “Association” from our moniker in 2021. Speaking to the changes, Jonathan Payne (CMO) said, “Since the founding of the ASA in 1983 we have grown into more than an association. ASA is now the premier and largest sailing education authority in the world, as well as a sports brand having taught almost 600,000 people to sail through its over 400 schools worldwide. Our students become master sailors and instructors and hold on to our brand for their entire sailing careers. Simplifying the company’s name to American Sailing allows us to continue to grow our offerings without feeling constrained by the term association.”

• Digital Membership Card Announced.  As part of a push to reduce plastic pollution and the strain on our landfills, ASA is reducing the quantity of paper and plastic products that are generated by their membership process. Eliminating plastic printed cards as well as all paper products involved in the mailing of these membership documents is a first step in going digital for the organization.  A new Digital Membership Card for mobile devices was announced in 2021.  Active ASA Members can download their Digital Membership Card to their mobile device by logging on to the ASA Members Portal at members.asa.com and clicking on My Membership.  

• Annapolis Boat Show –  American Sailing returned the U.S. Sailboat Show in grand fashion with the ASA booth being a 157-foot sailing yacht.  During the Boat Show, over 5000 people visited American Sailing and learned about our private member charters and our sailing education. American sailing also put on two full days of seminars with racing guru Bill Gladstone and cruising experts Lisa & Andy Batchelor. One lucky person won a cruise aboard Arabella in 2022.

• Stars & Stripes. The exciting announcement of American Sailing sponsorship of Stars & Stripes 87 restoration project. American Sailing announced its partnership as a founding sponsor with The New York Harbor Sailing Foundation to restore Stars & Stripes 87, the most famous 12-meter racing yacht of them all. The boat reclaimed the America’s Cup and brought “the Oldest Trophy” in the sport back from Australia, a peak moment in American sailing history.

• ASA’s Veterans Sailing Education Program – ASA certified 276 veterans as part of the Veterans Education Sailing Program.  

• Hands Across the Sea. This year ASA members help to raise $71,413 for Hands Across the Sea. 946 donors from ASA helped to supply books to schools and libraries in the Caribbean. 

• Arabella Charters.  In 2021 ASA members participated in 4 Charters in two destinations with over 100 ASA Members visiting the Chesapeake Bay and the Islands of New England. In 2022, American Sailing will offer 6 member events aboard Arabella to New England, Chesapeake Bay and the British Virgin Islands.  

• Explore Croatia. American Sailing has announced two luxury sailing charters in Croatia. These private member events will consist of week-long charters with a small group of 16 sailors sailing out of split Croatia. 

• Member Flotillas – ASA member events in Europe and the Caribbean saw over 200 sailors embark on flotillas.  ASA schools coordinated flotillas in Croatia, Sardinia, Turkey and the Caribbean.   

• New ASA 106  Textbook. ASA published Advanced Cruising & Seamanship in partnership with North U. created to accompany the ASA 106 course Advanced Cruising. To teach the high-level sailing and sail trim principles we have worked with Bill Gladstone to update his popular workbook and bring it to the ASA audience.

• Membership Partnerships. American Sailing added more than 20 new partnerships tooffer member discounts on products and services. ASA members will save thousands of dollars on sailing products, apparel and service.

The ocean we call our playground requires our attention and the American Sailing Association continues to do its part to keep the environment and conservation at the forefront of its message to both its members and the audience at large.