Whisperer of Champions

For a no-nonsense perspective on coaching and coaches, we check in with one of the best, now bound for the pedestal in the National Sailing Hall of Fame.

- DAVE POWLISON

Recent National Sailing Hall of Fame inductee Ed Adams has had more than his share of success, including a slew of championships in Lasers, Snipes, J/24s, Lightnings, Thistles and even Sea Dogs, as well as a Star World Championship and successful stints in a range of offshore boats, from the Chicago to Mackinac Race to the Volvo Ocean Race, and even in the PHRF fleet of his home in Newport, Rhode Island. But over the past several decades, his career has been redefined by coaching, and like his performance on the racecourse, he has been nothing short of stellar. We recently caught up with Adams to talk about his perspectives on coaching. As those who know him will readily attest, he calls it like he sees it.

It’s interesting that I’m talking to you about coaching when, in fact, you came from an era when there really wasn’t any coaching. Have you ever had a coach?

I had a coach for one regatta, when was sailing Stars, but other than that, I’ve had no coaching whatsoever.

Do you regret not having a coach?