American Sailing appoints David Taylor as CEO

American Sailing has appointed David E. Taylor as CEO of American Sailing and its affiliated platforms, North U, American Sailing Vacations and American Boating.

American Sailing is an association of sailing schools, charter companies, professional sailing instructors and sailors, with over 400 affiliated sailing schools located throughout the US, as well as in the Caribbean, Europe, Central America and Asia.

Taylor succeeds Jonathan Payne, who led the organisation from 2022 until his death in November 2025. The appointment follows a search led by executive recruitment firm Boyden on behalf of the board. Former Olympic and America’s Cup sailor Russ Silvestri oversaw the process.

“Dave brings something rare to this role, the credibility of a lifelong sailor and boater who became certified through the ASA educational system, paired with the commercial experience to sustain and grow what we’ve built,” says Peter Isler, two-time America’s Cup winner and board chairman of American Sailing. “This is a stewardship assignment at a moment when continuity and long-term growth must go hand in hand, and we believe Dave is the right person to lead us forward.”

Taylor joins from LoadSpring Solutions, where he served as chief commercial officer. Before that, he was president and chief revenue officer at RightEye LLC and chief revenue officer at Kajeet, Inc. His career has also included senior leadership positions with training and certification organisations, as well as consultancy work with professional associations on membership development, publication revenue and event performance.

Taylor first joined American Sailing as a student in 2019. He holds five ASA certifications, an International Proficiency Certificate and a US Coast Guard Captain’s License. According to American Sailing, he has since logged thousands of sailing miles and spends much of his time aboard his Beneteau 41, Marley, sailing in the Chesapeake Bay and other cruising grounds.

“I consider this opportunity the pinnacle of my career,” says Taylor. “American Sailing changed how I think about sailing, and about what structured education can do for someone who believes they already know enough. My mission is to protect what this organisation has built, the foundation, the standards, and the educational system, extend it to the next generation of sailors, and make sure every affiliated sailing school has what it needs to grow.”

Cindy Shabes, co-founder and president of American Sailing, adds: “We needed someone who understood the business and understood the sailor. David is both. That alignment with our mission matters as much to us as his executive track record.”