The 29er Class continues its Meet the Fleet series by introducing Caroline Atwood, head coach and owner of the high-performance program Skiff+, working with 29er athletes across North America and the Caribbean.
Her sailing journey began at a young age in Maine.
“I began sailing optimists at a young age in Maine. After learning to race in Optis I moved on to the 420 and college sailing at Tufts University.”
While at university, Atwood stepped into Olympic pathways, beginning with the 49erFX and continuing her campaign across multiple high-performance classes as part of the US Sailing Team.
From Olympic Campaign to Coaching
“Several of my coaches in Olympic class boats encouraged me to coach 29ers as a way to deepen my understanding of high performance boats and double handed relationships. Those coaches were incredibly patient with me while I learned the ins and outs of high performance sailing and coaching. I am so lucky for their mentorship and try to follow their example now that I am a full time coach myself.”
Why the 29er?
“The 29er produces great sailors. Athletes who are willing to lean in and master 101 trimming, steering, weight management, and teamwork in the 29er are good sailors full stop. The boat itself if a wonderful teacher because it rewards well executed basics and does not tolerate fundamental mistakes.
In addition to the sailing, the 29er offers a lot of big fleet racing where the top 25% have similar boat speed. This means that as sailors learn the boat, then also gain mastery of racing skills and regatta management. To get all of that from a youth class is really a dream. Plus it looks cool.”
Growing the Caribbean Fleet
“The Caribbean has some of the best sailing conditions on earth and also some of the coolest kids (and parents and volunteers) on earth. I’m so lucky to get to work closely with them to grow the 29er fleet there!
The local fleets in the islands train and race hard year round thanks to their give-back culture. It’s a really amazing thing to witness. Older sailors of all disciplines, I’m talking former 29er sailors, retired cruisers, local Olympians, race committee volunteers, sailing parents etc. give whatever they can to get kids on the water in the 29er. Resources are shared and learning is happening at every level.
In addition to the local action, throughout the winter months Puerto Rico and St. Croix are training hubs for sailors from the States and Canada. Both islands have international clinics and regattas where cold-water sailors and their coaches are greeted with Caribbean hospitality, big wind and turquoise water. It’s a whole vibe and sailors always level up there. The vision to scale up high performance sailing in the Caribbean is firmly in place. I encourage any 29er sailors interested in sailing there, both local and international to reach out! I’d love to put you in touch with the community there in order to make it happen.”
Learning the Boat
“The boat feels good when it’s being sailed well. Yes, it’s a steep learning curve and you will capsize a lot, but lean into the moments and techniques that feel balanced and comfortable. Once you learn to work with the boat, rather than fight it, a whole world of sailing opens up.”
Keys to Success
“Athleticism and determination are the two things all my athletes have in common. If you have those two things you can learn the rest.”
Tips for the Fleet
“Training volume is key, but if you can’t train that day get fit and get organized. This helps you make the most out of the sailing days you do have. A system for understanding the lessons of the day and the stamina to put in focused hours will take you very far.”
Advice for the Next Generation
“Get your parents ready to say ‘yes’ to the crazy opportunities when they come up because they will come up.”