This Isn’t a Comeback.
It’s the Second Wind.
From U.S. Sailing Team member to full-time mom and now Olympic hopeful, Lauren’s story is about resilience, second chances, and racing for something bigger.
About Lauren Wilson
Mom. Sailor. Creative Director. Olympic Hopeful. Powered by grit, family, and a second wind that refuses to fade.
I fell in love with sailing as a kid growing up in Coronado. By 17, I was a nationally ranked Laser sailor and a member of the U.S. Sailing Team, racing across the country and around the world with the ILCA class. The Olympic path was right in front of me — but when the time came to choose between chasing that dream or finishing college, I chose USC, a career, and the life I wanted to build.
The dream didn’t disappear. It just waited.
For nearly two decades, I stayed connected to the sport — racing keelboats, leading women’s teams, mentoring younger sailors, and raising my family with my husband, Ken. But in 2024, something shifted. I stepped back into an ILCA 6, felt the spark return instantly, and realized I wasn’t done.
The Spark That Lit the Second Wind
At a women’s regatta in San Diego, a teammate told me that watching me “in race mode” was inspiring — especially for her kids. That comment hit hard. My own kids deserved to see me like that too: committed, joyful, fierce, and fully alive in the sport I love.
That moment changed everything.
A Season That Tested Everything
In 2025, I completed a full ILCA 6 sailing season for the first time in more than a decade. I raced in major regattas across the country, qualified for international competition, and fought for every inch on the racecourse.
What I didn’t know then:
I was doing it all with an undiagnosed hernia and a torn abdominal wall.
After the season ended, what I expected to be a simple repair turned into complete abdominal reconstruction. I’m now in recovery — rebuilding my strength honestly for the first time in years — and more determined than ever.
And somehow, through grit and stubborn optimism, I still finished the season as a:
🏅 Top 10 Female in the 2025 ILCA-NA Grand Prix Standings
🌎 Qualified competitor on the ILCA international stage
⛵ Stronger, smarter sailor — with more ahead
And at Worlds in Formia, I took a port-tack start so bold it will live rent-free in my head forever.
Why I’m Racing — and Why I Need My Community
This campaign isn’t just about results or medals.
It’s about momentum, visibility, and rewriting the narrative of what’s possible for women, working parents, and mid-career athletes.
But the path to LA28 — and the 2026 season that leads there — comes with real costs:
Charter boats for travel regattas
Coaching and training blocks
Domestic and international travel
Entry fees, logistics, and gear
This is an athlete-funded campaign.
To stay competitive at the highest level, I need my community — not just cheering me on, but helping me get to the starting line prepared and supported.
Every donation through the Skiff Sailing Foundation directly funds the campaign and keeps this dream within reach.
Looking Ahead: 2026
2026 is a make-or-break year in my journey toward the U.S. Olympic Trials.
My calendar will take me from Florida to California, across Europe, and into Canada — racing in elite international events that shape rankings, skills, and readiness.
This isn’t a solo pursuit.
It’s a community-powered movement.
And I’m deeply grateful you’re part of it.
Speaking & Storytelling
My journey isn’t just happening on the water — it’s taking shape in rooms, stages, and communities, too.
I speak on:
Reinvention and resilience
Leadership through adversity
The pursuit of big dreams in midlife
High-performance parenting
Creativity, courage, and second winds
Recent audiences include the San Diego Tourism Authority, creative agencies, and women’s leadership groups.
If your organization is looking for a story of grit, ambition, and renewal, I’d be honored to speak.
Thank You
This journey is fueled by family, community, and the belief that it’s never too late to chase something extraordinary. Thank you for being the wind in my sails.