Meet Our Founder

Hey sailor, I'm Andrew Sorensen from Milford, CT. I've been on the water my whole life — literally since before I can remember — and that passion, combined with my engineering background, led to the creation of the Sailing Store.

Along the way I became a USCG Near Coastal Master Captain, an ISAF world-ranked ILCA/Laser sailor (top 450 globally), a US Sailing Level 3 certified coach, and Race Program Coordinator at Milford Yacht Club on Long Island Sound. I've coached the Fairfield University Sailing Team, Staples High School, and junior sailors through JSALIS.

My background in chemical engineering makes me think hard about materials — I know how bad plastic is, and I see it everywhere on the water. My mission is to build gear that lasts and eventually biodegrades. Everything I sell I've tested on a real racecourse.

  • 🏆 Top-450 ISAF World Ranked ILCA / Laser Sailor
  • 🎓 US Sailing Level 3 Certified Coach
  • ⚓ USCG Near Coastal Master Captain
  • 🌊 ISAF Category 3 Professional Offshore
  • 🏁 Race Program Coordinator — Milford Yacht Club
  • 🎓 Head Coach — Fairfield University Sailing Team
  • ⚗️ Chemical Engineer & Full Stack Developer
Andrew Sorensen as a baby on a Laser dinghy at the yacht club with his Aunt Jody
My first time on a Laser with my Aunt Jody — Milford Yacht Club

Coaching & Racing Credentials

Milford Yacht Club

Current Race Program Coordinator. Running the ILCA / Club 420 junior and adult racing programs on Long Island Sound.

Fairfield University

Head Sailing Coach. Developed collegiate racing program on Long Island Sound, coaching ICSA inter-collegiate regattas.

Staples High School

Varsity Sailing Coach. Coached CISA inter-scholastic sailing in Westport, CT.

JSALIS Junior Sailing

Long-time coach in the Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound — the most competitive junior circuit on the East Coast.

Founder-Led

You're buying direct from the person who races, coaches, and builds the gear. Every product I sell is something I use and trust as a professional sailor.

Purpose-Built

I innovate to solve real problems I've faced on the water. SpinClip, the ILCA Bailer Lever, FleetStart — each one came from years on the racecourse.

Quality First

Small-batch manufacturing with premium materials, tested in 35 kts with big easterly swells on Long Island Sound.

Built by AJ

NavTactiq™

Turns your iPhone into a pro-grade sailing compass instrument

FleetStart™

Automated race start-sequence signaler

ILCA Bailer Lever™

Fix your bailer — no more cockpits full of water

SpinClip™

Spinnaker auto-release halyard clip

iPhone Deck Mounts

Phone cage and deck mount for racing

Race-Proven Guides & Tuning Tips

Because gear only wins races when it's set up right. Free from the coach who built it.

ILCA 7 Sail Settings

Upwind and downwind tuning ranges from a world-ranked ILCA sailor

Club 420 Tuning Guide

Full rig-setup reference from a L3 certified 420 coach

ILCA Vang Setup

How to set your vang for every condition on Long Island Sound

WASZP Rigging Guide

First-time foiler setup and common rigging mistakes
"Andrew's lever works really well. So easy to install, I didn't even need instructions and my bailer is fixed." — Local ILCA Fleet Captain, Long Island Sound

Questions about setup or fit?

I'm happy to help you pick the right gear or install it correctly. Coach's guarantee.

[email protected]