A1R Launches High-Performance Academy to Help Promising Athletes Take the Next Leap

Positioned between the Foiling Pipeline and Project Podium, the new program will give select emerging athletes the focused support and clear direction needed to advance.

Some of the most promising athletes in American sailing are also at one of the hardest stages to support. They have moved beyond early development and shown the potential to go much further. But they may not yet have the experience, resources or results needed for a full Olympic campaign or a position on a professional team. Without the right help at this stage, progress can stall and exceptional talent can be lost.

America One Racing has created the A1R High-Performance Academy to fill that gap. The Academy will serve as a springboard for select emerging athletes, particularly in fast-evolving foiling disciplines. Each will receive focused support over a defined period to pursue a specific goal, from Project Podium and a future Olympic campaign to a world championship, SailGP, the America’s Cup or another professional opportunity. The Academy sits between A1R’s Foiling Pipeline and Project Podium:

• The Foiling Pipeline introduces athletes to foiling, helps them build skills and creates opportunities for talent to emerge.
• The High-Performance Academy works with select athletes who have demonstrated exceptional potential and are ready for more focused support.
• Project Podium invests deeply in athletes prepared to pursue Olympic selection and podium success.

Together, the three programs allow A1R to support athletes at distinct stages of development—creating opportunities for talent to emerge, accelerating those who demonstrate exceptional potential and investing deeply in those ready for an Olympic campaign.

Talent Can Come From Anywhere

Although the Academy places particular emphasis on foiling, it is built around athletes rather than a single class. Candidates may emerge from the Foiling Pipeline, youth and junior racing, collegiate sailing, Olympic development classes, community sailing organizations or other programs across the country.

Where an athlete begins matters less than the potential that athlete demonstrates and the work they are prepared to do to fulfill it. Selection will be based on demonstrated ability, commitment, coachability and a realistic opportunity to reach an ambitious goal with the right support.

A Clear Plan for Progress

Each Academy athlete will work with A1R to create an individual development plan with clear goals, expectations and measures of progress. Support will be tailored to the athlete and may include coaching, technical training, sports science, mentorship, campaign planning, budgeting, targeted competition in the United States and abroad, and opportunities to train alongside Project Podium athletes. Select grants will also be provided by the Sailing Foundation of New York and the Schoonmaker Foundation.

Learning to Take Charge

Technical ability alone is not enough to build a successful career. Academy athletes will be expected to take increasing responsibility for their progress. They will learn to set priorities, manage time and money, use performance data, plan a campaign and make informed decisions about their future.

Continued participation will depend on each athlete’s commitment, growth and measurable progress. These expectations are central to the Academy’s purpose: preparing athletes not only to perform at a higher level, but also to operate with the discipline and independence.

A Springboard, Not a Destination

Success will not be measured by how long they remain, but by whether they leave ready for what comes next. For some, the next step may be Project Podium and an Olympic campaign in 2032 or beyond. For others, it may be SailGP, the America’s Cup, professional racing or a technical or leadership role within high-performance sailing.

Developing the Future Today

The A1R Academy is not tied to one class or one Olympic cycle. It is part of a longer-term effort to build a deeper, stronger pool of American athletes capable of competing internationally for years to come.

The athletes who could contend for Olympic and international podiums in 2032 and beyond are developing today. Talent will always be the starting point, but talent also needs timely coaching, clear direction, meaningful competition and the opportunity to mature.

The role of the A1R Academy is to nurture the talent American sailing cannot afford to lose and give promising athletes a springboard toward what comes next.