Harry Legum
Sailor of the Week: June 24-30
Last weekend was a special time for the 80 girls preparing for this week’s U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship, hosted by the Hingham Yacht Club (Mass.). The girls were treated with two days of racing clinics, featuring several of the top college and junior sailing coaches in the country. One of the participating coaches was Harry Legum, head strength and conditioning coach for the US Naval Academy’s offshore and dinghy teams.
Harry is the owner of Annapolis Sailing Fitness (ASF), created in 2003-04, which offers sailing fitness to all sailors from Opti Class to America’s Cup competitors. A number of notable sailors train with Harry at ASF, including 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Anna Tunnicliffe, Molly Vandemoer, and Andrew Campbell. Terry Hutchinson, US SAILING’s 2008 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and former America’s Cup tactician, has been training with Harry at ASF for the past five years.
At last weekend’s clinics, Harry focused on sharing exercises and routines that pertain to the type of sailing the girls are doing this week in their Club 420s. “We want the sailing fitness segment of this clinic or any clinic to be part of a continuing process with follow up and consistent training habits practiced,” said Harry.
Harry has a well rounded approach to sailing fitness that includes core strength training, usage of weights, yoga, balance and stability, injury management and prevention, nutrition, the mental game, and team building. ASF has designed programs and trained teams from St. Mary’s College, MIT, Stanford, and Old Dominion.
“I like the rush of racing, especially as grinder,” Harry added. “I enjoy the teamwork on a big boat, but I can quite easily let someone take the helm as I chill.”
Harry looks forward ASF’s expansion into three U.S. regions. He plans on offering more Internet training and campaign guidance in the near future as well.