Bringing a proven track record of intercollegiate coaching success, Ken Luczynski was named the next head offshore sailing coach at the Naval Academy in February 2025.
The head coach of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy’s offshore sailing team for the previous 11 years, Luczynski guided the Mariners to victory at the 2023 Kennedy Cup, claiming the Intercollegiate Sailing Association’s big-boat national championship.
Luczynsk led the USMMA team to top-four finishes at each of the last four Kennedy Cups, solidifying the Mariners as one of the top intercollegiate offshore programs in the country. The Kings Point squad also found success in the McMillan Cup under Luczynski, posting a pair of runner-up finishes at the east-coast championship in 2017 and 2022 before capturing the oldest trophy in college sailing in 2023. Additionally, his teams posted one podium finish and three service academy trophies in three Newport-to-Bermuda Races and racked up numerous first-in-class finishes on the summer ocean racing circuit.
Most recently, the fall 2024 campaign saw the Mariners take second place and finish as the top service academy at the Shields Trophy while earning second and third in class at the Storm Trysail Club Intercollegiate Regatta. Kings Point went on to finish fourth overall at both the McMillan and Kennedy Cups.
During his time at Kings Point, Luczynski also oversaw the six-boat offshore fleet and taught the required academy class of “Safety of Life at Sea”, while working closely with the USMMA Sailing Foundation.
Prior to joining the USMMA offshore program, Luczynski was the owner or KML Coaching & Project Management for seven years (2007-14), coaching a range of sailing disciplines while managing a group of seven boats for various owners. Luczynski got his coaching start with the Boston Sailing Center, serving as a instructor and racing coach from 1987 to 2010.
Luczynski also spent time in marine sales, owning a UK Sailmakers Sales franchise from 1997 to 2022 before working for Euro Marine Trading (2011-13) and Bainbridge International (2013-14).
Luczynski also has extensive racing experience of his own. Formerly a top-10-ranked Finn sailor in the U.S., he competed in the finals of the U.S. Finn Olympic trials for the 2008 Beijing Summer Games. Luczynski has also posted top-10 national championship finishes in three different one-design classes and raced in the 2012 Atlantic Cup aboard the Class 40 Toothface. Additionally, since making the podium in his Bermuda Race debut in 1990, he has competed in eight Bermuda Races with three podium finishes.
A 1990 graduate of Northeastern University, Luczynski earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and economics.
