Registration is open for the 9th edition of the Sail America Industry Conference (SAIC). Held annually, SAIC will host speakers, workshops, and industry leaders and colleagues for the three-day conference, April 19-21, 2023, in Newport, RI.

Tentative Schedule at a Glance

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

1:00 pm – Regatta-Sail Newport-Register your crew now. Limited boats available.
Come join us for an afternoon of racing on Sail Newport’s fleet of J22’s in Narragansett Bay, south of the Bridge, between Rose and Goat Islands! Short course (30 min max) races around the buoys. Racing will be main and jib only, teams of 3-4 recommended. Notice of Race (NOR).
6:30 pm – Opening Reception

Thursday, April 20, 2023

7:30 AM – Conference Registration
7:30 am – Breakfast
8:30 am – Sail America Welcome, Kevin Carlan, Sail America President
8:45 am – Keynote Speaker, Building and Leading Great teams-Ken Read of North Sails
- Ken Read will talk about his combined experience creating and leading teams for business and grand prix racing, utilizing his experience at North Sails, North Technology Group and the dozens of Grand Prix racing programs he has put together.
9:45 am – How to Find and Land Great Employees–Neal Harrell, Brooks Marine Group
10:45 am – Refreshment Break
11:00 am – Chartering a course to sustainable boat building – Beneteau Group US’s Green Initiative-Invited
12:00 pm – Lunch -Visit to Newport Sailing Museum-Tentative
1:15 pm – Team Building and Leadership, Gail Lowney Alofsin, President and Founder, Leadership at ALL Levels.
Keeping pace with professional certifications and training: Nuts and Bolts of managing all of these certifications. Tim Murphy, ABYC-(Facilitator), Stanton Murray (Murray Yacht Sales), Holly Ashton (Safe Harbor Marinas)-Invited
How to become the best you! Managing your own professional development, Gail Lowney Alofsin, President and Founder, Leadership at ALL Levels.
3:05 pm – Refreshment Break
3:30 pm – Who are the New Sailors and How De We Connect?: Brad Read, Sail Newport; Community Boating Center Providence, New Bedford Community Boating, SailTime, -Adam Hess as moderator-I
4:30 pm – Session-Pending
5:30 pm – Reception/Raffle

Friday April 21, 2023

8:00 AM – Conference Registration
7:30 am – Breakfast
8:15 am – Where do all of those youth sailors go?: Converting to boat buyers. Dawn Riley, Oakcliff-Invited
9:30 am – Refreshment Break
9:45 am – “Leading through Transitions” hosted by Sally Helme: Bill Goggins, Harken; Eric Braitmayer, Imtra; Scot West, Ronstan
11:00 am – The Ocean Race and How to Build a Competitive Team With an Environmental Focus: Rob MacMillan, 11th Hour Racing
12:00 pm – SAIC Wrap-up, Kevin Carlan, Sail America President