Sarasota Youth Sailing Program
January 5-6, 2007
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THE COACHES
The Sarasota Youth Sailing Program is very fortunate to be hosting two of the top team racing coaches, and sailors, for a two day clinic. As members of the Team Racing Team 'Silver Panda' Amanda and Colin have competed at the highest level of the sport. In 2007 they competed a sweep of all the major team racing events including wins at the Charles River Team Race, US Team Racing Champions (Hinman), British Team Racing Champions (Wilson) and the a very impressive win at the 2007 Team Racing Worlds.
Colin Merrick, a three-time Collegiate All American, started team racing 18 years ago and has been enjoying it ever since. His first big win came at the 1997 ISSA National Championship for the Baker Trophy. Over the years, he has won 20 USTRA events including three National Titles (2002, 2006 and 2007). Colin has also competed in 4 Team Racing World Championships, finishing 6th, 2nd, 4th and 1st respectively. Colin started his coaching career in 1997 and as a coach, he has helped the Hobart and William Smith Colleges sailing team to finish 2nd at the ISCA Team Racing Championship in 2004.
Amanda Callahan learned some of the finer points of team racing while sailing on the Hobart and William Smith Colleges varsity sailing team. In 2003, she received All American accolades for crewing and helped her team to a 4th place finish at the ICSA Team Racing Championship. Since college, Amanda has been racing with the Silver Pandas, enjoying a highly successful 2007 racing season capped with victories at the US Team Racing Championships (Hinman), British Team Racing Championships (Wilson) and Team Racing Worlds. From the dock, Amanda coached the Tufts University team to a 2nd place finish at the 2006 ICSA Team Racing Championship. After spending the spring of 2007 as an assistant coach on the Stanford University sailing Team, Amanda took over as Head Coach/Waterfront Director at Roger Williams University which qualified for 2007 Intercollegiate Atlantic Coast Championships and is currently ranked #6 in the Country.