How to Get Started in the 49er: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Skills and Creating a Training Plan

Diving into 49er sailing is exciting and challenging—it’s a boat that rewards self reliance, careful preparation, and time on the water. Throughout this article I cannot emphasize enough that successful 49er programs put in place plans that are not dependent on other circumstances. They don’t rely on other people telling them when they can and cannot train. They find ways to get on the water, to connect with the fleet, and leverage the resources that they start with, however modest. Here’s a step-by-step approach to help you get started, develop your skills, and set yourself up for a successful 49er journey.

Step 1: Create a Training Plan

The first and most crucial step is to create a well-structured training plan. Even if you’re new and don’t yet have a boat, a teammate, or know the specifics of what to work on, a plan will help you make the most of your time and demonstrate commitment when seeking support.

1. Define Your Time Commitment: Decide on the number of hours you can dedicate over the coming season. For example, if you’re aiming for 250 hours, break it down monthly or weekly to keep yourself on track. If you can, you should go as far as to schedule the days that you’ll be on the water and the number of hours that you plan to get on those days. This will help you and your support team understand where the plan is working and where you’re missing.

2. Set Dates and Goals: Mark your availability on a calendar and set initial goals, even if they’re general (like gaining confidence in specific conditions or improving boat handling).

3. Prepare to Share: Having a concrete plan shows coaches or other sailors that you’re serious. If you go to a coach with your schedule and ask, “I have this time available—what should I work on first?” they’ll be able to give more targeted advice and possibly connect you with others training on a similar schedule.

Starting with a plan allows you to organize your approach and positions you well for the next step: building connections.

For a more in depth look at how to shape your plan, check out our article on building a strong campaign plan, here.

Hot Tip: As a coach, one of the most confidence inspiring attributes that I see from some athletes, is the drive to create and execute a plan regardless of what circumstances arise. The best young teams that I have worked with create a plan that aligns with coaching whenever possible, but even if that coaching gets cancelled or rescheduled, they stick to the original plan. This demonstrates that you are reliable, and it impacts everyone around you by creating an environment that is easier to plan around in the future.

Step 2: Connect with the 49er Community

Once you have a plan in place, the next step is to connect with other 49er sailors and see if your schedule can align with theirs. The US 49er community is a valuable resource, with most sailors willing to share tips, advice, and sometimes even time on the water for newcomers.

• Check Training Hotspots: In the winter, many US-based 49er sailors train in Miami, while in the summer, training camp locations will depend on the fleet goals for that summer. In the next four years leading up to LA 2028, I expect that a lot of summer time will be dedicated to sailing in Long Beach.

• Evaluate Your Plan: With a clear schedule, you can see if your training time lines up with any organized camps, clinics, or even informal practice days. Training alongside others, even if you aren’t directly sailing with the top teams, offers an opportunity to observe, ask questions, and gain insights from experienced sailors.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to people in the boat park. Often, just being around will lead to opportunities to join in on drills, races, or even just discussions that help you pick up key tips.

Step 3: Get on the Water Independently

Once you’re connected with the community, it’s time to start putting in your hours on the water. Solo practice is where you’ll gain the confidence and familiarity with the 49er’s unique handling. Start in manageable conditions (lighter winds and flat water), and gradually increase the difficulty as your comfort grows.

• Find a Training Partner: If you can find another team at your level, training together can increase your range of safe conditions and make sessions more productive. Even informal check-ins with other new sailors can keep you motivated and provide insights. It helps to bring vhf radios on the water for safety.

• Seek Coaching if Possible: If you have access to a coach, even occasionally, it will accelerate your learning. A coach can give specific feedback and help you focus on key skills to improve your boat handling.

As you progress, practice more advanced maneuvers and handling techniques. The 49er is demanding, and developing proficiency typically takes around 500 hours of dedicated practice.

Step 4: Use Video for Feedback and Improvement

Video is one of the most powerful tools for improving in the 49er. Capturing your sessions, either with a GoPro mounted on the boat or through a friend or coach onshore, allows you to analyze your form and technique.

• Review Your Footage: Watching yourself sail helps you spot areas for improvement, from body positioning to timing of maneuvers.

• Ask for Feedback: Share your videos with coaches or experienced sailors who can provide pointers. Even remote feedback from someone familiar with the 49er can be invaluable, giving you specific areas to focus on in your next session.

• Watch Video From Other Teams: there is lots of super high level footage on youtube if you do some digging. Study this.

Step 5: Track Your Progress with GPS Data

To stay focused and track improvements, use a GPS watch to record each sailing session. Websites like Racing Alpha let you upload and analyze data, giving you insight into your speed, consistency, and handling in different conditions. Over time, tracking your performance will help you set new goals and measure your progress, and if you use Racing Alpha, I’ll be able to follow along!

Additional Tips: Logging, Learning, and Making Adjustments

The more organized you are about tracking your progress and planning your sessions, the better prepared you’ll be to take on new challenges. Consistently logging your sessions helps you track your journey and recognize areas for improvement. Also, stay flexible—if you discover you need more time on a particular skill, adjust your plan accordingly.

For more guidance on crafting your own campaign plan, or to see a sample plan in action, check out our Unofficial Skiff Campaign Manual.

Building a Strong Sailing Campaign Plan

One of the keys to success in an Olympic sailing campaign is having a comprehensive, structured plan in place. A well-crafted campaign plan not only provides a roadmap for achieving your goals but also demonstrates your commitment and professionalism to potential supporters and coaches. The process of putting together such a plan can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re new to this level of the sport. However, if you break it down into clear layers, it becomes a powerful tool for staying on track and making meaningful progress.

The Three Pillars of a Good Campaign Plan

I like to teach that a good campaign plan has three essential pillars:

1. The plan,

2. The calendar, and

3. The budget.

Each pillar builds on the previous one, creating a clear, actionable roadmap. Let’s look at each of these components in more detail:

1. The Plan: Defining Values, Vision, and Goals

The first layer of your campaign plan should articulate your vision, values, and overall strategy. This part answers the why and the how of your campaign. Think of this section as the mission statement and guiding principles for your team. It’s where you lay out the purpose of your campaign, your key philosophies, and what success looks like for you and your team.

For example, your plan might define the phases of your campaign—such as learning, improvement, success, and peak performance— and outline the skills and strategies you’ll focus on during each phase. It should also include the key values that drive your approach, such as a commitment to continuous improvement, professional preparation, or leveraging mentors to grow as sailors and as individuals.

Your goal in this section is to provide a foundation for all the specifics that come next. It sets the tone and narrative of your campaign, helping everyone involved understand the bigger picture.

Here is an example of what that might look like for a young team.

2. The Calendar: Creating Specific Action Steps

After establishing your vision and key values, the next step is to map these out on a calendar. This is where your strategic ideas become specific, actionable items. Your calendar should cover key dates such as training blocks, competitions, and recovery periods. However, it’s crucial to be detailed about your time on the water. For example, you should specify what days you plan to sail and for how many hours. This serves as an accountability measure and allows you to track a critical KPI (Key Performance Indicator): hours planned versus hours sailed. Tracking this ratio can give you a strong indication of how closely you’re sticking to your intended schedule and help you identify patterns or challenges to address.

The calendar not only helps you set goals but also provides a framework for evaluating your progress. Even if you’re not ready to plan the entire year in advance, having a clear schedule for the next month shows commitment and helps you engage with coaches or supporters more effectively.

Here is a template to use when creating your calendar.

3. The Budget: Aligning Resources with Priorities

The final pillar of your campaign plan is your budget, which translates the calendar into financial terms. It involves evaluating the expenses associated with all the actions on your calendar and prioritizing how you’ll allocate your resources. The budget reveals what matters most to your team by showing where you’re choosing to spend your money. Whether it’s investing in high-quality sails, travel to key training events, or coaching support, your budget should reflect the strategic priorities outlined in your plan.

Putting a realistic budget together is crucial for two reasons. First, it ensures that you’re making informed decisions about where to invest your time and resources. Second, it helps demonstrate professionalism and foresight when communicating with supporters, sponsors, or fundraising prospects. A solid budget shows that you’re serious about achieving your goals and aware of the commitment required.

Here is a template to start with for budgeting.

You Don’t Need to Have Everything Figured Out Right Away

It’s essential to understand that you don’t need a perfect, four-year plan at the start of your campaign. It’s perfectly fine if you’re only able to plan out the next month or quarter in detail. This initial plan will still go a long way in showing your dedication and thoughtfulness. With even a short-term calendar in hand, coaches and mentors can engage more effectively and align their support with your goals. Over time, as you gain more experience and clarity, you can refine and expand your plan to cover longer time frames.

Putting It All Together: Presenting Your Campaign Plan

When presenting your campaign plan, keep the following points in mind:

1. Start with the “Why”: Begin by introducing the purpose of your campaign and the inspiration behind it. Talk about your vision, values, and what you aim to achieve, similar to how the Janov brothers outlined their journey by drawing inspiration from their heroes and mentors.

2. Highlight Your Strategy: Give an overview of your plan’s phases or focus areas for each year of your campaign. Whether your strategy is to start with boat handling and progress to speed work, or whether it’s to master racing tactics through a structured training calendar, make it clear what each phase entails.

3. Showcase Specifics: Have a calendar ready that outlines your planned training blocks, key regattas, and targeted hours on the water. Be sure to communicate your goals in clear, quantifiable terms, and indicate how you’ll measure your success.

4. Present a Detailed Budget: Include a budget that aligns with your calendar, highlighting key expenses and investment priorities. Be transparent about what you’ll need to achieve your goals, and outline how you plan to manage your resources.

5. Acknowledge that Plans Can Change: Be open about the fact that your plan is a working document and may need adjustments over time. Flexibility is key, and being adaptable shows maturity and realism in your approach.

The Path Forward: Commitment, Effort, and Communication

Creating a solid campaign plan is a sign of maturity and professionalism. Even if it’s not perfect at first, having a clear sense of direction will enable you to communicate effectively with coaches, mentors, and supporters. Remember, you don’t need to have everything figured out right away, but having a framework in place shows that you’re committed to the journey.

Ultimately, a campaign plan is more than just a tool for organization—it’s a demonstration of your values, vision, and commitment. It helps you articulate where you’re headed, how you plan to get there, and what resources you need along the way. By focusing on the three pillars—the plan, the calendar, and the budget—you can build a strong foundation for your campaign and take meaningful steps towards achieving your goals.

For more guidance on crafting your own campaign plan, or to see a sample plan in action, check out our Unofficial Skiff Campaign Manual.

Transitioning From Junior Sailing To The Olympic Classes: Building Self-Reliance, Planning, and Communication

One of the most challenging parts of the transition from Junior Sailing classes into the Olympic classes is moving from an environment where training programs are designed to provide a common pathway for many junior sailors, to an environment where you will have to take more ownership of your program. As a coaching community, it’s our responsibility to help athletes develop these skills to ensure a smooth and successful transition. This phase is not just about technical growth, but a pivotal step towards becoming an independent, self-driven sailor capable of taking the reins of their journey.

1. Getting Your First Boat: Taking Initiative and Ownership

In junior sailing, boats are often provided, rigged, and ready. Coaches or support staff tend to handle the logistics, letting the sailors focus solely on performance. However, as you transition into Olympic classes, you’ll face a new reality: you are the one responsible for getting your first boat, and more importantly, for understanding every detail about how it's set up.

In the Olympic classes, your boat becomes an extension of you, and familiarity with your equipment is not just beneficial—it’s essential. This is where self-reliance begins. Selecting, purchasing, and preparing your own boat teaches you not only about rigging but also about the nuances of boat maintenance, transport, and repair. It requires initiative to ensure your equipment is competition-ready, and this step acts as a first taste of taking control of your training environment.

2. Making a Plan: Setting the Course with Purpose and Flexibility

When you’re part of a structured junior sailing program, calendars and schedules are often set for you. Transitioning to the Olympic classes, however, means you’re no longer on that common pathway. You will be the person who thinks more about your particular Olympic campaign than anyone else: you will need to become the foremost expert.

Having a plan, and ideally having dates on a calendar, is key. A plan helps you avoid getting lost in ambiguity and shows coaches or mentors that you’re serious. More importantly, a well-thought-out plan demonstrates your commitment and helps you control what’s within your grasp. It allows others to align their resources and time with your goals.

The reality is, as you move up, others’ plans will inevitably shift. Coaches or training partners might have other priorities, events might get rescheduled, or logistical challenges may arise. However, having a baseline plan that you can execute independently allows you to stay on course. Flexibility, coupled with consistency, is what separates the athletes who keep moving forward from those who stall when the unexpected arises.

3. Communicating Effectively: Building Relationships and Demonstrating Commitment

Communication is another skill that becomes paramount as you progress. In junior sailing, coaches are often directly responsible for reaching out and guiding you through the logistical and planning processes. As you enter the Olympic classes, this expectation flips—coaches and supporters need to know that you’re receptive and engaged. They’re investing their time in you, and silence is a surefire way to communicate disinterest, even unintentionally.

It’s critical to be proactive and responsive. That means answering emails, returning phone calls, and communicating changes or updates to your schedule. If you’re seeking support from a coach, make it clear that you’re willing to put in the effort to keep lines of communication open. Don’t rely on a parent to do these things for you. Building these habits of clear and consistent communication isn’t just about logistics; it fosters trust and demonstrates that you’re ready to take charge of your journey.

Embrace the Challenge: A Journey Towards Independence

The transition from junior sailing into the Olympic classes is not just about a change in boat or competition level—it’s a shift in mindset. It’s about embracing independence and stepping into a more active role in your own development. Becoming self-reliant in managing your equipment, disciplined in planning, and proactive in communication are all parts of this new phase.

These skills are not only crucial for sailing success, but they’re life skills that will serve you well beyond the sport. They teach you to be resourceful, adaptable, and reliable—qualities that will define you, not just as a sailor, but as a person.

It’s our goal as a sailing community to help athletes develop these capabilities early, creating a smoother transition and a stronger foundation for their future in the sport. Moving into Olympic classes is an exciting step, but it’s also a demanding one that requires a proactive mindset and willingness to take on new responsibilities. When approached with intentionality and commitment, this transition can become an empowering experience that unlocks new levels of growth and opportunity.

So, for those taking this step, remember: take ownership, make a plan, and communicate well. The path forward is in your hands.

For more advice on making the transition from junior sailing into the Olympic classes, check out our Unofficial Skiff Campaign Manual

Next Generation American Sailing

In 2009 I ran the first ever "Skiff Squad Bootcamp" in Santa Barbara, California. It was attended by 29er sailors from around the country, and many of the alumni stayed connected to the program for years to follow, winning medals at the 29er Worlds and the Youth Worlds, attending prestigious universities as part of their sailing teams, and competing in the Olympics, SailGP, and the America's Cup. By all measures the program was a massive success. Two key ingredients to this success were:

1. A regional training model, focused on client feedback.

2. A financial model that offered elite coaching for a fraction of the cost of a private coach, while allowing coaches to make enough money to pay the bills.

At the Olympic level, such a model is difficult to build because the geographic scope is larger, the number of teams is much smaller, and the available resources are more contested.

In junior sailing, a coach who commits to building a regional program can impact many generations of athletes and provide the framework needed to win to a large number of teams across generations. This creates an ownership model in which coaches take ownership of the program, and shepherd athletes along the pathway to top level performance.

In contrast, at the Olympic level, each group of athletes requires a specialized program, so one size does not fit all. The strengths and weaknesses of the small number of top tier teams and athletes play an outsized role in determining what types of coaching and support are needed at each step of the way. As such, for an Olympic program to create generational success it must be laser focused on building a framework of support that caters individually to each team, and each athlete specifically. Nowhere in the world is this transition from Junior Sailing to Olympic Sailing more pronounced than in the United States, where we have some of the most robust junior sailing programs in the world, and one of the most challenging transitions when it comes to running a successful Olympic campaign. Success in this endeavor means fundamentally flipping the ownership model that athletes are used to as junior sailors and college sailors. I believe that we must help our athletes transition from a paradigm where “the program owns the athletes”, to the a model that can succeed in producing robust support systems for diverse teams at the top level, by creating a system where “the athletes own the program”.

The fundamental belief behind the US Skiff Squad project is that this means that coaches and administrators must build a system to develop leadership in athletes while simultaneously empowering the athletes to make existential decisions about the very programs, coaches and administrators who are enabling the empowerment. We envision a future where organizations from around the sailing world rally behind the athletes with a singular focus: supporting athletes to realize their potential.

This requires new levels of transparency and trust. The US Skiff Squad project is an attempt to build this system in the American ecosystem of sailing. It is a coaching structure focused first and foremost on leadership development in athletes, and empowerment of those athletes in the decision making process. The program does not seek to “own” athletes, rather it is the other way around. We believe that the athletes must own the team.

In my next few articles I’ll get into some specifics of what that looks like.