Alex Samano

I'm a serial entrepreneur and parent of a competitive sailor. I started sailing around age 10 at summer camps, but I never had a chance to race competitively. The first boat I ever sailed was a Laser, which we sailed double-handed because we weren't big enough to keep it flat. We didn't use a 4.7 sail either; everyone used a full-rig setup. My most fun Laser sailing memory was at Lakefield College in Ontario, where we capsized on a downwind leg but still managed to win the race.

My story with sailing in the PNW started with an old BYTE (yes, it’s a terrible boat even when you can miraculously point), we sailed in Greenlake during COVID. Our son, Sebastian (age 9 at the time), picked up the bug and started sailing at CYC summer camps. The moment he sailed his first regatta, he was immediately hooked and never looked back. Unfortunately, due to COVID, he wasn't able to race his first USODA regatta until he was almost 12. He needed performance coaching quickly and as much competition as possible. When I started looking for coaching and development options in the PNW, I discovered a very insular sailing ecosystem, dominated by a couple of organizations and a very small group of people making most decisions within it. This was surprising and frustrating in an affluent area with abundant water, boats, and resources. Since then, I've made it my mission to elevate standards in our region and improve access and choice for the benefit of all our young sailors and their families. Over the years, I've connected with individuals at organizations like CYC, SSP, and West Vancouver Yacht Club who share the same goal. Together, we have been working to offer better coaching, racing, and travel opportunities for all our PNW sailors and better professional development for our coaches. No turf issues or defensiveness—just a shared commitment to raising the bar and keeping our sailors on the water.

For our team, I'm responsible for everything from Marketing and Legal to Accounting. I spend a lot of my time listening to our sailors, parents, and coaches to understand their needs and turn them into clinics, programs, trips, or coaching for all sailors. The other bulk of my time goes into acting as an ambassador to grow our network of coaches and clubs around the world and find other great individuals who can help us get the best from our sailors, like Hernán Vila.

I am US Sailing Level 1 Certified (barely) and support our coaches and sailors on the water when needed. I have done plenty of boat rescues in challenging conditions. I have many great stories and some heart-pounding moments. I have learned a few tricks from many hours on the RIB with some of the best Opti and ILCA coaches around the world. Lately, Sebastian and I have started coaching Opti and building a curriculum for our intermediate sailors, focused on Opti tuning, boat handling technique, and boat speed. Stay tuned!

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