Sailing

Brian McGinnis has been sailing for almost 30 years.

McGinnis obtained the Level 1 Instructor and Level 2 Coach US Sailing Small Boat Instructor Certifications and worked as a Sailing Instructor for almost a decade.

As a Sunfish Class Competitor, McGinnis has competed in 4 World Championships with a best finish of 19th place at the 2008 championship, where he also received the Sportsmanship Award. In 2008, McGinnis finished 5th at the North American Continental Championship, and 9th at the Rolex US Sailing Singlehanded National Championship. McGinnis finished 7th at the US Pan American Games Trials in 2007. McGinnis has won 4 regional championships including the Florida, Mid Atlantic (2x), and NY Downstate Regional Championships. McGinnis has received the Weeks Memorial Trophy twice (1994, 2006) for being the Top Great South Bay Finisher at the NY Downstate Regional.

As a Laser Class Competitor, McGinnis has competed in numerous Olympic Classes Regattas and competed against competitors from over 50 countries including Olympic, World, Continental, and National Champions. McGinnis also competed in 4 Empire State Games and was the Long Island Region Coach for 3 years.

McGinnis has been a lifelong participant in the Great South Bay Yacht Racing Association. McGinnis won the Westin Trophy in 2008 by winning the bay singlehanded championship. McGinnis was a crew member on the winning team for the Furman Trophy in 1995, the bay men’s triple-handed championship. McGinnis was the skipper on the winning team for the Patin Challenge Plate in 1991, the bay junior double-handed championship. McGinnis was awarded the GSBYRA sailing grant in 1991.

Brian McGinnis has competed in numerous classes of smaller dinghy sailboats and bigger keelboats over the years.