Setting the Stage for New MAGIC in Olympic Sailing
An Inspiring Evening That Sheds Light on What it Takes to Reach the Podium
Thank you to the Naples Yacht Club members who joined us for an engaging and forward-looking evening. With the 2028 Olympic Games returning to our home waters, the conversation could not have been more timely – or more inspirational. Interested in supporting our efforts? Click here to donate today.
Setting Sights on 2028
In 2028, the Olympic Games return to American waters. For the first time in a generation, the world will watch sailing on our home coast. It is a defining moment for the U.S. and for the athletes who dedicate their lives to this pursuit, with no guarantees of securing a berth to represent the country. What most don’t see is the barrier that has nothing to do with skill. Years of relentless training, global competition and total commitment…all while fighting for the funding required to compete.
While many international teams receive centralized support, American sailors often self-fund nearly everything – from coaching and boats, to travel and housing. Too often, opportunity depends on resources, not talent. That’s not how champions should be chosen, or how a nation prepares to win…especially on home waters.
Project Podium exists to change that. Created by A1R, the program identifies America’s most promising advanced-level sailors and provides the professional support required to compete – and win – on the world stage. When the Olympics arrive in 2028, the sailors wearing USA should be there because they earned it, not because they could afford it.
Project Podium Stakeholder Group
The Coalition
A1R’s Project Podium is backed by a rare and credible coalition built to deliver results: leaders who understand performance, philanthropy and the responsibility of preparing athletes for the highest levels of international competition. A1R serves as the catalytic force behind Project Podium, providing strategic leadership, operational discipline and a performance-driven framework that ensures athlete-centric support is intentional, accountable and results-oriented.
Sailing Foundation of New York
With a longstanding commitment to excellence in American sailing, the SFNY brings decades of deep institutional knowledge, philanthropic stewardship and a proven connection between athlete development and Olympic-level pathways.
The Schoonmaker Foundation
The Schoonmaker Foundation provides critical philanthropic backing rooted in the belief that access should determine opportunity, helping remove financial barriers that can derail even the most talented athletes.
American Magic
As the modern-day U.S. America’s Cup team, American Magic brings world-class technical expertise, innovation and a high-performance culture drawn from the very pinnacle of the sport connecting advanced-level sailors to professional standards of preparation and execution.
St. Francis Sailing Foundation
Drawing from one of the most competitive sailing communities in the country, the St. Francis Sailing Foundation brings deep experience and a legacy of producing world-class competitors.
Together, this Stakeholder group form a unified effort to give American sailors a fair chance to succeed when it matters most.
Hap Fauth
Hap Fauth is a championship yacht owner and a leading figure in American grand-prix sailing, best known for building and campaigning Bella Mente at the highest levels of Maxi and Mini Maxi racing since 2005. A founding Principal of American Magic in support of the New York Yacht Club’s America’s Cup challenge, he is widely respected for his strategic vision, integrity, and leadership in advancing high-performance sailing worldwide.
Paul Cayard
Paul Cayard, Director at A1R and founder of Project Podium, is one of the most accomplished figures in international sailing—a seven-time World Champion, two-time Olympian, and the first American skipper to win the Whitbread Round the World Race. A veteran of seven America’s Cups and winner of the 1992 Louis Vuitton Cup, he is also a Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and a member of both the National Sailing Hall of Fame and the America’s Cup Hall of Fame.
Doug DeVos
Doug DeVos is a lifelong sailor and accomplished business leader whose career spans decades of elite competitive sailing, including nearly 20 years as owner-driver of Quantum Racing and a founding role in the 52 SUPER SERIES. As Team Principal of New York Yacht Club American Magic, he is known for applying disciplined business practices, strong culture, and long-term vision to build sustainable pathways and raise performance across the sport.
Noah Lyons OLY
Noah Lyons is a 23-year-old iQFOiL Project Podium sailor from Clearwater, Florida, who began sailing at age six and progressed through windsurfing and Olympic development pathways before launching his iQFOiL Olympic campaign in 2022. A University of South Florida graduate, he finished ninth at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after qualifying the U.S. and now sets his sights on earning a spot – and gold – for Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Support Our Athletes
The Sailing Foundation of New York (SFNY) plays a pivotal role in advancing the sport of sailing and its community by channeling 100% of donations directly into impactful programs.
To make a donation online, click below. After you click the button, you will be taken to a form to designate your donation to a specific athlete or organization.
