Join our High Performance Race Team
- Nick Pullen
- Nov 30, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 8
Tahoe Yacht Club: High Performance Sailing Team
We are looking for youth athletes aged 12-21 who love sailing and want to become exceptional sailors in the Laser class. If your child already has sailing experience and a passion for the sport, this could be the perfect opportunity for them.
My name is Nick Pullen, and I am the head coach for the Race Team and founder of Lake Tahoe Sailing. We are actively seeking boys and girls who want to train hard together on Lake Tahoe, travel to regattas, and eventually become champions in Laser sailing.
About Me
I’ve been racing Lasers since I was 13, and this sport has been the best thing in my life. It has opened up many doors and friendships. I was fortunate to be mentored by several Olympic sailors and raced worldwide on the Canadian National Team, eventually winning the Canadian National Championships in 1996. I’ve coached high-performance Laser sailing with the International Sailing Academy in Puerta Vallarta alongside some of the best coaches globally. Even at age 56, I am still racing Laser with the masters! My mission is to help other kids enjoy this fantastic sport as much as I have and to see them succeed in sailing and in life.
The World of Sailing
Sailing is a relatively unknown sport, but it occurs all over the world in various types of boats and can be enjoyed throughout one’s life. When you become a sailor, you join an international tribe of incredibly successful people. Sailing requires resilience and curiosity. Many sailors become successful entrepreneurs. It demands fitness, planning, courage, teamwork, discipline, focus, and, above all, a passion for adventure. The following sections will hopefully answer any questions you have about sailing and the Laser Race Team.
What is it Like to Race Lasers?
Laser sailing is an individual sport that resembles mountain bike racing or biathlon ski racing, but with much more mental decision-making throughout the race. Similar to these two sports, there is an uphill/upwind and downhill/downwind component. It is also equipment-intensive. Each race lasts about 45 minutes, with usually 3 to 4 races a day over a 2 or 3-day regatta. Some describe Laser racing as running a marathon while playing chess, all while having a firehose squirting water in your face! Olympic-level Laser sailors are among the fittest athletes on the planet, and yes, sailing is an Olympic sport. Is it fun? If you enjoy adrenaline-fueled water sports, it is incredibly fun. Blasting downwind and surfing on a wave brings the same thrill as skiing on a powder day.
Is Sailing Expensive?
Unfortunately, sailing can be expensive, but we have some great news. The Tahoe Yacht Club and Tahoe Community Sailing Foundation have purchased 10 boats and a travel trailer. This means that the significant expenses, including gas and coaching at regattas, are covered. There are also sailing scholarships available for kids who are passionate but may not have the resources to participate. To qualify for a scholarship, applicants must demonstrate dedication by attending all training events and regattas while showing financial hardship.
Balancing Work and Sailing
Can kids work during the summer while sailing on the team? Yes, and this is encouraged! Race Team athletes train every second week, allowing them to work during the off weeks. Training during the week starts at noon and goes until 5 PM, Monday through Friday. This schedule gives them time to work in the mornings and on weekends when there isn’t a regatta.
The Tahoe City PUD Parks and Recreation program is also looking for competent sailors to teach novice and intermediate sailing at Obexer’s on the West Shore. Kids must be 16 to teach sailing and must have the US Sailing Small Boat Level One Instructor Certificate. The TCPUD pays for the certification. Ultimately, our goal is to have 20 athletes on the race team who train for a week and then teach sailing for a week in the novice/intermediate program.
Required Gear for Sailing
Youth who want to join the team will need to invest in proper sailing clothing to stay warm in all conditions. This includes hiking pants, a spray top, sailing boots, and a sailing-specific life jacket. These clothing items are mandatory because, similar to downhill skiing, sailors at this level go out on the ocean in big breezes and waves, requiring protection. We start training in June on Lake Tahoe, where the water can be cold and wavy. Proper clothing is essential for safety.
Safety in Sailing
Is sailing safe? Compared to most sports, sailing is quite safe. While sailors may capsize and swim in deep water with big waves, the number of severe injuries is far lower than in contact or high-speed sports. The biggest concern for sailors is hypothermia, which can be mitigated by wearing proper sailing-specific clothing. For example, in Denmark, kids as young as 10 regularly sail in the snow while wearing drysuits and are perfectly fine. Wearing sailing-specific clothing is essential. All regattas have safety boats on the water ready to assist, and we use an 18-foot rigid inflatable motorboat for assistance during practice on Lake Tahoe if needed.
Sailing and College Opportunities
Can sailing help you get into college? Yes! Many Ivy League schools have sailing teams and are eager to accept nationally ranked Laser sailors. However, there are no athletic scholarships available for sailing. While sailing can help you gain admission, it won’t provide funding for college. It is far easier to achieve a ranking in sailing compared to other college sports, as participation numbers are much lower. Although sailing is a fringe sport in North America, it has a dedicated following. If you want a sport to help you get into an Ivy League school, sailing is the way to go.
Joining the Laser Race Team
How does one become part of the Laser Race Team? If your child has completed the Novice or Intermediate course with Tahoe Community Sailing or already has basic sailing experience, the next step is to try sailing Laser for a week in our “Learn to Laser” program. This program allows them to see if sailing Laser is for them and learn basic Laser boat handling skills. The class size for “Learn to Laser” is smaller, limited to only 5 kids per week. The cost is $500 for a week and runs from noon to 5 PM out of the Lake Forest Boat Ramp facility outside Tahoe City. If they love it, they can join the team immediately afterward. The Race Team is a larger group of 10, and the weekly cost is reduced to $250 per child. Athletes are required to participate in 4 weeks of training throughout the summer, as well as regattas. The cost is comparable to participating on a downhill ski race team.
Costs of Joining the Team and Traveling to Regattas
Athletes must commit to at least 4 weeks of training at North Tahoe in the summer, which costs $1,000. Four monthly payments of $250 can be made starting February 1st. Other ongoing expenses for attending regattas include lodging, food, and entry fees. Athletes can travel with the coach/trailer to regattas for free or fly at their own expense.
Parental Involvement
Can parents travel with the team and race Lasers as well? Yes! We need parents to help chaperone and transport boats. Most of the events the team participates in are for all ages. Parents are encouraged to sail as well, and Lake Tahoe Sailing offers weekend adult clinics to help parents improve their Laser skills so they can enjoy racing too. How many sports allow parents to have fun at the races? Not many!
Join Us!
Join me at the Tahoe Yacht Club on Tuesday evening, December 16, from 6-8 PM to learn more about sailing and how your child can be part of this exciting sport.
Schedule for 2026
ILCA Midwinters at Balboa Yacht Club, Cabrillo Beach: March 19-22 (Regatta, Worlds Qualifier)
Pacific Coast Championships at Coronado Yacht Club: April 2-5 (Regatta)
Downwind Clinic from Benicia to Sherman Island: May 23-25 (Training)
The last day of school in Tahoe is June 10.
Race Team Training Week #1: June 15 - 19
Race Team Training Week #2: June 22 - 26
Race Team Training Week #3: July 6 - 10
Columbia River Gorge One Design Week, Cascade Locks: July 20 - 26
Race Team Training Week #4: August 3 - 7
Race Team Training Week #5: August
Laser Fleet Championships at Lake Forest: September 11 - 13
US Sailing Youth Championships: Date and Location TBD (This is the peak event for the team)
Register for 4 weeks of Team Training at:
Free Online Training Resources and Useful Links for Sailing Laser
If you want to see great footage of sailors in action and learn from some of the best coaches in the world, check out these free YouTube channels specific to Laser sailing. You can also join local groups on Facebook and Google.
Our North American Class Association: https://ilcanasailing.org/
Our Lake Tahoe Laser Fleet FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/998487596828009
Registration for Monday Night Laser Sailing starting May 25th: https://tahoeyc.com/sailing
California District 24 Class Website: bit.ly/d24-home
Resources for Purchasing Sailing-Specific Gear
One of the best stores for gear is West Coast Sailing, based out of Portland, OR. See: https://westcoastsailing.net/. They carry all the clothing and gear sailors need to stay warm. Sailors on the team will need the following clothing items:
Hiking Pants (Rooster)
Sailing Boots (Zhik or Gill)
Sailing Lifejacket (ensure there are no buckles on the shoulders)
Spray Top with Neoprene Cuffs on the wrists and waist (Rooster)
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