Neighbor News
The WaterFront Center Welcomes Zach Runci to High School Sailing Coaching Staff
Former Fordham and SUNY Maritime head sailing coach joins The WaterFront Center to strengthen its growing High School Sailing program.
OYSTER BAY, NY — The WaterFront Center has announced the addition of Zach Runci to its High School Sailing coaching staff, bringing more than a decade of collegiate and youth sailing experience to the organization’s competitive program.
Runci previously served as Head Sailing Coach at both SUNY Maritime College and Fordham University, where he led nationally competitive teams and helped develop student-athletes who excelled both on and off the water. During his tenure at Maritime, his teams qualified for numerous Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) national championships across several disciplines, including two top-five finishes.
His sailors have also earned multiple All-Conference honors and dozens of Academic All-American distinctions.
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In addition to his collegiate coaching career, Runci has spent more than a decade coaching youth sailors with the Bellport Bay Sailing Foundation. Now serving as Head Race Coach, he has helped guide junior sailors to consistent success in the Great South Bay Yacht Racing Association (GSBYRA), including a sweep of the podium in the 2025 Grand Prix Championship Series.
A graduate of Old Dominion University, Runci competed in the ICSA for four years and helped his team qualify for four Open National Championship events between 2009 and 2013. He continues to compete in one-design and team racing events and has won multiple Grade 3 match racing regattas through Oakcliff Sailing Center.
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At The WaterFront Center, Runci will support the organization’s High School Sailing program, which allows students from schools without sailing teams to compete while also helping new teams get started.
“High School Sailing at The WaterFront Center is designed to make the sport accessible to more students,” the organization said. “Students can join the WFC team individually or work with their school to create a new team and compete in regional racing.”
Those interested in learning more about the High School Sailing program can visit:
https://www.thewaterfrontcenter.org/hss
The full announcement about Coach Runci is available at: thewaterfrontcenter.org/news/hsscoachzach
