A Proven Pathway to High-Performance Sailing
Launched in September 2021, the Lauderdale Yacht Club Nacra 15 Program was created with a clear purpose: to provide junior sailors with a world-class pathway into high-performance multihull sailing. Built on LYC’s long-standing culture of excellence, the program bridges the transition from junior boats into an environment that develops speed, seamanship, resilience, and confidence.
Training out of Fort Lauderdale gives sailors consistent exposure to real ocean conditions—waves, current, pressure, and breeze—that accelerate learning and prepare athletes for elite national and international competition. From the beginning, the program emphasized preparation, process, and long-term athlete development rather than short-term results.
The results quickly followed.
Competitive Timeline & Achievements
Early Momentum (2021–2022)
Within its first year, LYC Nacra 15 sailors were training and racing at major benchmark events, including the Olympic Development Thanksgiving Clinic and the Orange Bowl Regatta, while building toward World Sailing Youth World Championship qualification.
Early Breakthrough at the Olympic Pathway Level — March 2022
In March 2022, the LYC Nacra 15 Team competed in its first championship regatta at the Clearwater Olympic Classes Regatta (OCR), part of the U.S. Olympic pathway circuit. Racing alongside Olympic and pre-Olympic classes, the young LYC team gained critical experience in demanding conditions.
- Cody Roe & Matthew St. Romain earned a Silver Medal, finishing just four points off the win.
- KJ Hill & Charlotte Marshall secured their first Nacra 15 race wins, demonstrating rapid improvement.
- Mariano Veiga & Connor Mertz competed just weeks after joining the program, gaining valuable experience.
This regatta confirmed that LYC sailors belonged on the Olympic development pathway—and that their learning curve was steep.
International Breakthrough (2022)
In August 2022, less than one year after the program’s launch, LYC reached the international stage at the Nacra 15 World Championships in Lake Garda, Italy.
- Cody Roe & KJ Hill won the Under 16 World Championship by a commanding margin and finished 8th overall.
- With additional LYC teams competing in their first international regatta, the USA earned second place in the Nations Cup.
By the end of 2022, the team had grown to 12 sailors, and LYC expanded its fleet with support from US Sailing’s Olympic Development Program, signaling national confidence in the program’s direction.
Hosting the World (February 2023)
In February 2023, Lauderdale Yacht Club hosted the Nacra 15 World Championships, welcoming sailors from nine countries to race just east of the Dania Pier in classic South Florida ocean conditions.
- Cody Roe & KJ Hill dominated the fleet, winning 11 of 19 races and securing the World Championship title by 42 points.
- Connor & Brooke Mertz finished 4th overall and 3rd in the U19 division.
- Cole Fanchi & Matthew St. Romain earned 3rd in the U16 division.
- The USA won the Nations Cup.
The event showcased both competitive excellence and LYC’s ability to host world-class regattas.
Sustained International & National Success (2023)
LYC sailors followed their World Championship success with consistent results across Europe and the United States:
- Nacra 15 European Championships (Belgium)
- Roe/Hill finished 3rd overall in a 74-boat fleet.
- The USA earned 3rd in the Nations Cup.
- US Sailing Youth Championships
- LYC teams delivered a 1–2 finish, with Cody Roe & Brooke Mertz winning the Arthur Stevens Trophy.
Even at the 2023 World Championships in Barcelona, sailed in extreme conditions, LYC sailors demonstrated resilience, teamwork, and adaptability.
Early Adoption of Foiling — October 2023
In October 2023, LYC took a major step toward the future at the America One Racing Foiling Camp in Pensacola, Florida.
- 12 sailors converted Nacra 15s to FCS (Flight Control System) configuration.
- Training incorporated GPS tracker data and drone footage.
- Sailors trained alongside other foiling classes, accelerating technical understanding.
This marked one of the earliest organized efforts in the U.S. to develop junior sailors on a foiling multihull platform and laid the foundation for future FCS success.
Youth World Championship Success — December 2023
The program reached a defining milestone at the 2023 World Sailing Youth World Championships in Búzios, Brazil—the Olympics of youth sailing.
- 7 of the 15 sailors on the U.S. Youth Worlds Team were current LYC sailors or recent graduates.
- Cody Roe & Brooke Mertz earned a Silver Medal, finishing just two points shy of gold.
- The Nacra 15 was the only class allowed to race on the final day due to extreme conditions.
This result validated LYC’s development model at the highest level of junior sailing.
Open Orange Bowl Victory — December 2023
LYC sailors closed 2023 with another marquee result at the Open Orange Bowl Regatta.
- Cody Roe & KJ Hill won the regatta with eight points in six races.
- Connor & Brooke Mertz finished 3rd, just three points out of second.
- Mariano Veiga & Sara Shumanis earned 5th overall.
Depth on Display (2024)
By 2024, program depth was undeniable.
At the US Sailing Youth Championships:
- Connor & Brooke Mertz won the regatta.
- Cody Roe & KJ Hill finished second.
- Matthew St. Romain & Valentina Agnese placed 4th in their first Youth Championships.
- First-time Nacra sailors showed immediate competitiveness.
LYC sailors ended the year with strong results at the Open Orange Bowl Regatta, adapting across heavy and light conditions.
World Qualification & Leadership (January 2025)
The 2025 season opened with multiple LYC sailors qualifying for the US Sailing World Championship Team at the Lauderdale Olympic Classes Regatta.
- Connor Mertz & Dima Iegorov won the Worlds Team Qualifier.
- Rosie Simpson & Matthew St. Romain also earned qualification.
Leading the Way: Nacra 15 FCS & Long Distance Racing
In April 2025, LYC sailors competed in the Miami–Key Largo Race using Nacra 15 FCS boats—an 80-mile offshore challenge.
- Orlando Botha & Amaya McDermott won the Overall Nacra 15 Trophy and First-to-Finish Youth.
- Luca Damiano & Benjamin White earned 2nd place.
- Multiple sailors completed their first-ever Nacra 15 regatta successfully.
This performance highlighted seamanship, navigation, endurance, and systems management—skills critical to modern high-performance sailing.
Why the LYC Nacra 15 Program Works
The program’s success is built on:
- Consistent, high-quality coaching
- Year-round training in real ocean conditions
- Emphasis on speed, technique, fitness, and preparation
- A culture of accountability, teamwork, and resilience
- Strong family, volunteer, and club support
Leadership matters. LYC Sailing Director and Nacra 15 coach John Casey won the 2025 F18 Americas Championship, reinforcing a coaching model grounded in current, real-world high-performance racing. The Formula 18 is the larger analogue to the Nacra 15 and reflects the pathway sailors are preparing for.
Why Junior Sailors Should Join
The Nacra 15 Program offers:
- A clear transition from junior classes into high-performance sailing
- National and international competition opportunities
- Development in speed, seamanship, decision-making, and confidence
- A pathway to Youth Worlds, Olympic multihulls, and foiling classes
- A team culture focused on growth, effort, and excellence
A Culture Bigger Than One Program
On any weekend, the water off Lauderdale Yacht Club is alive with sailing—from Optis learning ocean skills, to ILCAs racing, to offshore keelboats beyond the inlet. Nacra 15 sailors grow within that ecosystem, surrounded by ambition, opportunity, and inspiration.
The success of the Nacra 15 Program is inseparable from LYC’s broader commitment to sailing.
The Future: Nacra 15 & Nacra 15 FCS at LYC
Looking ahead, the program is focused on:
- Expanding participation through Nacra 15 FCS
- Developing foiling and offshore skill sets
- Building deeper fleets and stronger events
- Preparing sailors for the highest levels of international sailing
With proven results, strong leadership, and a clear vision, Lauderdale Yacht Club remains at the forefront of junior multihull development.
Lauderdale Yacht Club Nacra 15 Program
A place to learn. A place to compete. A place to grow.
