ASA
American Sailing (ASA) in 2026: New CEO, Savvy Navvy and a Famous Yacht
Publié · Dernière vérification octobre 2026
The American Sailing Association now calls itself American Sailing, keeping the ASA initials. In 2026 it appointed David E. Taylor as CEO, partnered with the navigation app Savvy Navvy (adding its 400-plus schools to the app and launching an electronic navigation course), and backs the restoration of the 1987 America's Cup winner Stars & Stripes 87.
A new name
Announcing the change at the US Sailboat Show in Annapolis, the organisation said it had outgrown the word "association". It reports teaching almost 600,000 people to sail through more than 400 schools worldwide over nearly 40 years, and wants the brand to speak to younger sailors.
New CEO
David E. Taylor was appointed Chief Executive Officer in June 2026, bringing more than 30 years of experience scaling organisations. Chairman Peter Isler was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in April 2026.
Savvy Navvy partnership
In July 2026 American Sailing announced a partnership with the navigation app Savvy Navvy: more than 400 American Sailing school locations appear in the app so users can find accredited courses, students get member discounts, and there's a new electronic navigation course. Taylor said that although he loves paper charts, his phone or tablet is mounted in the cockpit when he's on the water.
Stars & Stripes 87
American Sailing is a founding sponsor of the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation's project to restore Stars & Stripes 87, the 12-Metre that won the America's Cup back for the US in 1987. The boat was damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017.
ASA courses explained
| Course | What you learn |
|---|---|
| ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing | Sailing a small keelboat in light to moderate winds |
| ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising | Skippering a cruising sailboat by day in coastal waters |
| ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising | Skippering and living aboard on a multi-day cruise; the usual bareboat-charter standard |
| ASA 105 Coastal Navigation | Chartwork, tides and position fixing |
| ASA 114 Cruising Catamaran | Handling a cruising catamaran |
What is Savvy Navvy?
Savvy Navvy is a UK-founded navigation app that combines charts, weather, tides and automatic route planning on phones and tablets. Partnerships between sailing schools and navigation apps reflect how many new sailors now navigate: on a tablet in the cockpit, with paper as a backup.
Stars & Stripes 87 and the 1987 America's Cup
In 1987 Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes 87 won the America's Cup back from Australia off Fremantle, four years after the US lost it for the first time in 132 years. The 12-Metre yacht is one of the most famous boats in American sailing history, which is why its restoration is getting national support.