Nick Ewenson named Race Programs Manager for Sail Newport

Newport, RI – Sail Newport has appointed Nick Ewenson of Newport as race programs manager, according to an announcement from Rhode Island’s Public Sailing Center today.

The Announcement

Sail Newport, Rhode Island’s Public Sailing Center, has appointed Nick Ewenson (Newport, RI) as race programs manager. Ewenson is an accomplished sailing coach and joins Sail Newport with experience from New England Science & Sailing in Stonington, CT., as head coach at the University of Rhode Island (URI) and assistant coach at College of Charleston (Charleston, S.C.).

“We have wanted to enhance and expand our youth racing programs for both dinghy and big boat sailors. Nick’s expert coaching and sailing program management will be a great asset to our programs for all ages of youth sailors,” says Kim Hapgood, program director.

Ewenson will be responsible for developing youth racing programs and racing sailors on all age levels. He will manage the coaching staff and oversee youth regatta participation at Sail Newport and for travel events. Sail Newport’s high-performance Brooke E. Gonzalez Advanced Racing Clinic will also be under his direction.

Ewenson is a familiar face in the youth racing community. At URI, Ewenson coached their club team to a podium finish at Women’s Nationals. Also, while at College of Charleston he coached the Cougars to five national championships in five years. He also coached several students to All-American status.

In prior years Ewenson coached at Sail Newport, US Sailing, the Eastern Connecticut Sailing Association, the Southern Massachusetts Sailing Association, Chicago Yacht Club, Larchmont Yacht Club, Duxbury Bay Maritime School and other sailing organizations.

Ewenson has dedicated his life to coaching a sport that has given him so much enjoyment. He says. “It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of a sailor’s progression and goal attainment. It’s gratifying to witness my student sailors’ successes.”

Ewenson is an accomplished racing sailor as well. While at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, he was a member of their top-ranked sailing team which included winning a national championship. He had such a positive experience in college sailing that he decided to make sail training his career and pursued advanced instruction and coaching.

Ewenson grew up in Newport and attended Thompson Middle School. He started sailing at Ida Lewis Yacht Club (ILYC) as the first generation of Optimists were brought in to Newport by ILYC where he continued sailing throughout his youth. He then went on to sail for Tabor Academy in Marion, MA.

Prior work experience includes LaserPerformance (Portsmouth, RI), where he specialized in the high school and collegiate markets. He used his racing experience to help develop boat lines and customer service and successfully launched their z420. He also worked at Oldport Marine driving a launch in Newport Harbor.

Ewenson is certified US Sailing Level three coach, a STEM educator, a US Powerboating instructor and holds his U.S. Coast Guard OUPV Captain’s License.

“It’s a thrill to be back in Newport Harbor where I started,” says Ewenson. Sail Newport has a model community-based sailing center that offers so much to Rhode Island and the sailing community. I look forward building on that success.”

More Information

For more information on Sail Newport, visit www.sailnewport.org.