The CISA Advanced Racing Clinic took place at the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club and the end of last week and early this week.
The clinic, in a way, gave Long Beach a preview of 2028, not from the International Olympic Committee or LA28 organizers, but from the next generation of sailors who may well stand on the Olympic podium when the Games return to Southern California.
The CISA Advanced Racing Clinic, held at ABYC from March 12 to Monday, March 16, once again proved why it’s considered the most important youth training camp in the country. And this year, the significance felt bigger: these athletes were training on the very waters where Olympic medals will be decided in just two years.
CISA’s Advanced Racing Clinic has been shaping American sailing talent since 1978, but its 2025 and 2026 editions have taken on a new weight. Nearly 100 Olympic hopefuls trained at ABYC in 2025, logging long days on the water and learning from a coaching staff that included six Olympians.
The CISA Advanced Racing Clinic, considered the most important youth training camp in the country, took place at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club from March 12 to Monday, March 16. (Courtesy photo)
The CISA Advanced Racing Clinic, considered the most important youth training camp in the country, took place at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club from March 12 to Monday, March 16. (Courtesy photo)
The CISA Advanced Racing Clinic, considered the most important youth training camp in the country, took place at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club from March 12 to Monday, March 16. (Courtesy photo)
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The CISA Advanced Racing Clinic, considered the most important youth training camp in the country, took place at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club from March 12 to Monday, March 16. (Courtesy photo)
This isn’t a casual spring break camp. It’s a high-performance pressure cooker — a three-day immersion where sailors are expected to absorb elite-level coaching and race against the best youth athletes in North America.
Alamitos Bay Yacht Club has long been a powerhouse in youth development, but its designation as the 2028 Olympic sailing venue has elevated its role even further. The club’s combination of reliable breezes, tight racecourses, and a culture steeped in competitive excellence makes it the ideal proving ground for sailors with Olympic ambitions.
During the clinic, athletes spent 12 hours a day on the water and in classrooms, absorbing everything from starting-line strategy to sports psychology. They capped the weekend with a final race day — a chance to apply new skills under real pressure.
For many, it was their first taste of what an Olympic campaign actually feels like.
One of the clinic’s greatest strengths is its coaching roster. Olympians, national champions and class experts rotate through the program, offering sailors a rare chance to learn from people who have actually lived the Olympic journey.
In 2025, two-time Olympic gold medalist Mat Belcher not only spoke to the group — but also jumped in to coach. That kind of access is unheard of in most youth sports.
Clinic Director Rosie Chapman, who also leads U.S. Sailing’s Olympic Development Program, summed it up best:
“I always come away from the CISA clinic just so excited for what the future holds for the next generation of athletes,” Chapman said.
Chapman is the clinic director. She as won multiple medals, and has also won U.S. Coach of the Year.
Established in 1978, this clinic has a long-standing reputation as the premier youth training event in the United States. This invite-only program offers elite youth sailors the opportunity to train with a world-class coaching staff, including Olympians and national champions, in a high-performance environment designed for those aiming for the top of the podium.
This clinic is specifically designed for the top 20% of sailors in the country. Participants must be proficient in racing in conditions of 20-25 knots and capable of executing at an elite level. To maintain the focus on high-performance skills, athletes who do not meet these standards may be asked to come off the water. And that’s exactly why it works.
Some of the coaches and presenters included Grant “Fuzz” Spanhake, a Quantum Racing coach. With six America’s Cup campaigns and four round-the-world races to his name, Fuzz is experienced in designing and trimming sails to win some of the most coveted trophies in the sport of sailing.
Charlie McKee, a two-time Olympic medalist and one of the most respected minds in high-performance sailing, also spoke during the clinic. He currently serves as head coach at America One Racing, where he leads athlete development for Project Podium, focused on delivering medal success at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. As an athlete, McKee earned bronze medals in two different Olympic classes, the 470 at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 49er at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
ABYC club manager Susannah Pyatt served as a 420 coach. She was a 2012 Olympian, 2016 Olympic coach and World Cup silver medalist.
Caleb Paine is the ILCA6 head coach, an Olympic medalist, America’s Cup sailor, Rolex Sailor of the Year and world champion.