Meet Our Coaches - Annapolis Yacht Club

The Annapolis Yacht Club's Junior Fleet Program fields an unprecedented world-class lineup of permanent and adjunct coaching talent who are fully able to leverage the Club's impressive array of state of the art facilities, assets, and amenities.

The program's permanent coaching staff provides consistency to our Junior Sailors. Our coaches routinely invite guest coaches whose coaching styles help forestall the onset of learning plateaus and help us deliver what we believe to be the most complete and experiential racing program in the country.

Each member of our permanent and adjunct coaching staff has excellent and varied credentials ensuring a uniquely valuable experience for every Junior Sailor.

To read more about our full-time staff and summer coaches, click the accordions below to expand.

Full Time Staff

Director of Junior Sailing ROBERT LIPPINCOTT Bobby grew up sailing Optis and Penguins at the Tred Avon Yacht Club in Oxford, Maryland. For two years, he was on the Chesapeake Bay Optimist Team (CBOT), and then was asked to join the U.S. Optimist National Team (USNT). In 2006, at the age of 14, he traveled to Lake Garda, Italy, with Team U.S.A. and finished 196th out of 558 Optis. Bobby attended boarding school at Christchurch School in Christchurch, VA, where his sailing success ramped up in 420s and FJs. In the spring of his junior year, Bobby’s team qualified for two ISSA National Championships. His team sailed its way to a 9th place finish at the National Fleet Racing Championship, the Mallory Cup, in St. Petersburg, FL. In late May, the team finished 7th at the National Team Racing Championship, the Baker Cup, in Redwood City, CA. Bobby attended Salve Regina University from 2010-2014 and competed as a full-time skipper all four years in the New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association (NEISA), which is one of the most competitive districts in all of college sailing. He sailed a wide variety of boats while living in Newport, RI, from double-handed dinghies such as 420s, FJs, Tech Dinghies, Larks, and Fire-Flies; to keelboats such as Colgate 26s, Ynglings, and Stars; and finally, to single-handed dinghies. Having sailed star boats competitively since 2009, Bobby has attended many prestigious events such as the 2009 Junior ISCYRA’s Western Hemispheres, 8 Sir Thomas Lipton Cup Regattas, 2014 Star North Americans and 2018 Star Worlds in Oxford, MD, and 2016 Star Worlds in Miami, FL. Bobby currently continues his training in the star boat and enjoys sharing his experiences and knowledge with the next generation of youth sailors, starting with the Annapolis Yacht Club’s Opti Racing Program, and reaching out to our high school programs as well. Having coached Optis for the past 15 years with multiple clubs around the Chesapeake Bay area, including Fishing Bay Yacht Club, Tred Avon Yacht Club, and Severn Sailing Association, Bobby brings experience, Corinthian spirit, and leadership to the AYC Junior Sailing Program, continuing to build on a nationally recognized Junior Program for its excellence in sailing instruction and training. He can be reached at [email protected].
Junior Sailing Assistant Director HOLLIS BARTH Hollis was blessed to grow up on the water in Chicago and learned to love the art and science of sailing through her dad’s passion for racing JBoats on Lake Michigan. After summers of being a young camper herself at Chicago Yacht Club, she realized racing was more her style and made many memories and lifelong friends on the Club 420. Inspired by her father’s many races to Mackinac Island, she completed the trip twice herself via the Farr40 rocketship Hot Lips. Sailing in California for college, the gorgeous weather and sea breeze were enough to convince her that she was hooked on sailing. Local J22, J105, and Snipe sailing take up most of her time. She considers her time spent roaming around on Spa Creek and the Severn teaching kids how to navigate boating and sailing fundamentals time well spent and is grateful every day for the coaches that kept her in line as a kid and fostered a love for the water.
Optimist Program Director/Head Coach ARTHUR BLODGETT Arthur Blodgett comes to Annapolis Yacht Club having just led the Lauderdale Yacht Club program to an unparalleled stretch of dominance in the Optimist class. Arthur coached LYC sailors to five consecutive US Opti Team Race Nationals victories and is a three-time winner of the prestigious Berlin Opti Team Cup. Cultivating a number of great Opti sailors during his tenure at LYC, Arthur built the program from eight champ fleet sailors in 2014 to 40 champ fleet Opti sailors in 2021, 12 Receiving National Team invites in 2021, and 22 sailors qualifying for the 2022 Team Trials. Since 2016, LYC Sailors have qualified for 14 of a possible 30 Worlds Team berths. Two LYC Sailors, Stephan Baker and Gil Hackel, finished 2nd at the Opti World Championships in 2018 and 2021 respectively - raising the standard of excellence for the USA. Hackel just qualified to represent the USA at his 3rd Worlds after 4 years of training at LYC, while David Mateo Coates won the South American Championship this past December after three years under Arthur's tutelage. Serving as LYC's Opti Program Manager, Arthur worked cooperatively with coaches, sailors and parents to plan training to help every sailor reach their goals - four Orange Bowl wins by three different sailors plus four Midwinters wins by four different sailors and countless other regatta victories and podium appearances are a testament to Arthur's organized, intensive, team first process. Arthur graduated from Eckerd College in 2009 as the school's first skipper to make the All-American Sailing Team and continues to be an avid racer. He was a J24 National Champion as trimmer in 2018 and placed second at the 2021 Snipe Western Hemisphere and Orent Championships as skipper. Arthur has been coaching and directing continuously since college and is excited to be coming back to his second adopted home of Annapolis - Arthur was the C420 Race Coach at SSA from 2010-12 and SSA High School Race Coach from 2012-2014, helping Broadneck High School to the podium at the 2013 Baker Nationals. Arthur is psyched to be joining our AYC Team and he is looking forward to meeting our sailors and parents. Arthur comes to Annapolis Yacht Club with an extensive resume of high-level Coaching Experience, and he looks forward to collaborating with our talented professional staff as a full-time employee.
C420 Race & High School Program Director/Head Coach MITCH POWELL Please join us in welcoming Mitchell J. Powell, our new 420 Program Director and Head Coach. On behalf of us all here in AYC Junior Sailing, we are thrilled to see what he will bring to our organization as a full-time employee and look forward to working with him as he grows his professional career here at AYC. Mitch is our latest addition to the full-time Junior Sailing team, including Hollis Barth, our Assistant Junior Sailing Director, and Arthur Blodgett, our Optimist Program Director/Head Coach. Over the past six years, Mitch has been one of our most dedicated/loyal AYC coaches. He has continued to work hard year after year to ensure that multiple future generations of AYC sailors and families get to have a world-class Junior Sailing experience! Mitch comes to us with a wealth of professional experience in both sailing and coaching alike. His passion for sailing started at a very young age, learning to sail on the Tennessee River in North Alabama. He went on to sail competitively out of Fairhope Yacht Club in Mobile Alabama, transitioning from the Optimist to the Laser Radial and C420, and competed in the GYA circuit in the Flying Scott. Mitch's experience and success in sailing continued throughout his college years at Florida State University, where he served as the Vice Commodore of the FSU Sailing Club and helped lead the team to their first ICSA Fleet Race Nationals in 27 years. Outside of college sailing, Mitch has been involved in a variety of sailing classes, including Lightning, J70, and Etchells, and recently purchased a Viper 640 to compete in the Bacardi Invitational winter series. Mitch has been seen coaching C420s off & on at AYC since 2017. He also served as a part-time AYC varsity coach for several high schools in the Annapolis area during the Fall Season of 2020, as well as a Basic Keelboat instructor at the United States Naval Academy. Most recently, he was Program Manager and Head Optimist RWB coach for Davis Island Youth Sailing Foundation in Tampa Florida, as well as a high school sailing coach for Plant High School. Mitch's experience in developing talented, hardworking, and passionate sailors makes him a valuable addition to our team. We are so excited he has decided to join our team and we know that he will bring great insight into our programming for years to come!

Summer Coaches

Annapolis Yacht Club maintains an adjunct staff of professional sailing instructors. Each instructor employed by the Club is certified by the United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) for either Level 1 or Level 2 dinghy instruction. Level 1 Instructors are taught techniques for teaching basic sailing including safe boat operation, instructional sailing drills, and lecture topics. Level 2 Instructors are taught similar skills but with an emphasis on racing. To be eligible for certification by US Sailing, instructor candidates must be certified by the American Red Cross in First Aid and CPR.

SUMMER 2024 COACHES COMING SOON!



Lime Green Opti Head Coach WILLEM DESIMONE Willem DeSimone grew up sailing every summer at Tred Avon Yacht Club and AYC. He has competed locally and nationally in Optis with AYC as well as in the Laser Radial fleet with the Severn Sailing Association and Key Biscayne Yacht Club ILCA teams. He is a rising senior at St. John's College High School in Washington, DC and plays ice hockey when he's not sailing. His favorite activities outside of sailing are fishing and fitness. He is excited to share his passion for sailing and knowledge of the Bay with the next generation of sailors at AYC this summer.
Lime Green Opti Assistant Coach JED LORY I grew up sailing in Ohio on Lake Erie, where I raced optis for 4 years. During that time, I traveled to numerous national-level events where I gained a lot of experience and was introduced to many other clubs, which is where I first learned about Annapolis Yacht Club. I graduated from Severn School this year and crewed for our A team's skipper Thomas Sitzmann. Even though I moved to Annapolis last year, when I joined the high school sailing team, I worked very hard and quickly moved up to crewing with Tommy for my senior year. This entire season we went undefeated in our team race record, including winning the Baker Team Race Nationals. We also placed second at the Mallory Fleet Race Nationals with Tommy and I tying for first in A division. This winter I crewed in Club 420s with Green Fleet Coach Kyle Reinecke, where we placed top 20 at the Orange Bowl International Regatta and top 10 at Midwinters. We will also be sailing Nationals and North Americans this year to close out our C420 careers. Next year I will be attending Roger Williams University as a sailing recruit and hope to have a very successful college sailing career and extend my sailing beyond. Other boats I have sailed include 29ers, I420s, FJs, J22s, and Lasers, and I hope to get into 470s this year to campaign for the Olympics. This summer I will be coaching Lime Green with Willem DeSimone and I am very excited. AYC is part of the reason I chose to move to Annapolis because of their prestigious sailing team and coaches, and I am extremely honored and proud to be able to be a coach this year and pass down what I have learned!
Opti Green Fleet Head Coach CHANTAL FERRERO My name is Chantal Ferrero I’m from Argentina and I live in Cordoba. I started sailing in the city of Carlos Paz when I was 10 years old, and I fell in love with optimist. In Carlos Paz we have a lake and it’s 30 kilometers far away from Cordoba where I live. I started sailing with optimist in 2015 and then I moved on to ILCA 4 in 2019. I have been part of the Argentinian Youth sailing Team since 2020 on ILCA 6. As a coach I have been coaching J24 class and during this summer I coached optimist and I gave classes as a physical coach too. I love sports and more if there are in touch with nature. I train every day and I like a lot go to run because that make me feel free and give me peace. I did dance for a long time, and I love listening to music and dancing. To finishing the bio, I define myself as a person who likes to try new experiences and learn from them because I think that is one of the best ways to grow up as a person. Well, that’s a little about me and I super anxious to know all of you this summer. I know that it’s going to be amazing, and we will share good time together. See you in few weeks! Sail fast!
Opti Green Fleet Assistant Coach KYLE REINECKE I have been sailing since Age 7, training and participating in regattas, clinics, and invitational events, nationally and internationally, as an Annapolis Yacht Club sailor on the Club 420 and Optimist Race Teams. As an optimist sailor, I was a three-time USODA Team Trials Qualifier; a two-time Maryland State Champion; a Middle Atlantic Midget Champion; and a member of the U.S. Optimist Development Program. I just graduated from Severn School, where I was a member of the sailing team. I placed first in numerous regional, district, and national regattas, including 1st Place at the 2023 Baker Trophy National Team Racing Regatta and 3rd at the same race in 2022. I also was part of the team that placed 2nd at the High School Keelboat National Championship in 2022. As a Club 420 skipper, I placed in the Top 10 at notable regattas such as the Club 420 National Championship, Club 420 New England Championship, and Club 420 Midwinter Championship. I also have experience sailing I420s, 29ers, 49ers, WASZPs, Club FJs, J24s, J22s, J70s, and Kiteboarding. While my passion is sailing, I also have played lacrosse and soccer and was a member of Severn School’s varsity wrestling team. I can’t wait to sail at the collegiate level at the U.S. Naval Academy following a year of prep school, and I’m very excited to be a part of an amazing/talented team of sailing coaches this summer at Annapolis Yacht Club. I am looking forward to coaching our Green Fleet sailors with Head Coach Chanti Ferrero.
Opti RWB Race Team Head Coach NICO PINI I am Argentinian, I grew up in Buenos Aires, where I sailed Optis, laser, 29er, 470, j-24, keelboats, both inshore and offshore and match race events. After optis, I jumped to the 29er class winning team trials for Youth Worlds, multiple local titles, and getting to race 2 World Championships achieving the gold fleet in 2011. 29ers are probably still one of my favorite boats to sail. Such a fast and fun boat to race! At 18 years old I started my coaching career, which has kept growing to the present. Working with all kinds of sailboats, I coached Argentinian National teams at multiple continental and world championships, helping these teams to achieve multiple titles, such as 6th in ILCA Master World Championships, top 10 finishes in Optimist Orange Bowl Regatta, podium finishes in ILCA South Americans and 1st at Optimist European Championship among others. During that time, I attended multiple sailing coach and sport psychology courses, and fitness and training seminars. I am always looking forward to improving my coaching, teaching, and technical skills. One of the things I love the most about sailing is how diverse skills come to play together! In 2014, I joined Club Universitario de Buenos Aires as Optimist Coach, soon became One-Design Classes Head Coach, and helped the Club become one of Argentina's most successful sailing programs. With just around 40 sailors in 2014, nowadays they have more than 200 youth sailors all year long in Optimist, Laser, i420, and 29er. Our sailors also secured multiple titles, such as: - i420 National Champions 2018 and 2019 (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) - i420 team trials for Youth World Sailing Championship 2018 & 2019 (boys), 2021 (girls) - 29er team trials for Youth World Sailing Championship 2020 & 2021 (girls) - 2022 29er girls Youth World Champion (Amparo Stupenengo) - Optimist National Champion 2019 & 2020 (1st & 2nd) - Top 4 finishes in Team Racing Optimist National Championship from 2016 to 2021 - 45 sailors qualified for Argentina Optimist National team between 2015 and 2021 - 2016 Optimist Girl South American Champion, 13th at North American Championship - 2017 Optimist North American: 8th - 2019 Optimist South American Championship: 12th and 1st Team Race; Girls Vice World Champion and top4 at Team Race, European Championship: 12th; North American Championship: 12th In both the 2021 and 2022 summers, I joined Bellport Bay Sailing Foundation as their Opti Race Head Coach, helping their race team to succeed at GSBYRA Jr Regattas, securing 1st place in all Red, White, and Blue fleets and overall on both seasons. After that I spent the last Southern Hemisphere summer season working at Royal Akarana Yacht Club in Auckland, New Zealand, as their Race Lead Coach, having the opportunity to learn about so many different classes and such an amazing sailing culture! With nearly 18 years of experience as a coach, I am truly passionate about sailing and I am committed to helping every single sailor to get to their best level, no matter what their personal goals in sport are. In my free time, I love to kitesurf, go climbing, play soccer, travel to new places, and learn from different cultures as I share mine. I also really love a good “asado” (Argentinian BBQ) shared with friends and any dessert with “dulce de leche” (Argentinian caramel).
Opti RWB Race Team Assistant Coach MARTINA PISANI Sailing has been a central part of my life since childhood. I took my first steps on my parents' sailboat and spent every available moment sailing and playing in the water. I lived in Brazil for five years, and upon returning to Argentina, my immediate desire was to sail in an Optimist. It was during this time that I truly learned to sail and compete in regattas, participating in numerous championships across the country and achieving commendable results. My sailing journey has been marked by notable achievements. I qualified for a European championship in Italy, a South American championship in Argentina, and a North American championship in Bermuda. In Bermuda, I proudly secured Third Place in the overall ranking and was crowned the North American Women's Champion. After my Optimist stage, I made the transition to the 420 class, where I became a two-time female champion in the Argentine Championship. I achieved notable results in this category and also earned the opportunity to qualify for the ISAF World Championship in Portugal. These experiences not only shaped me as a person and a sailor but also taught me valuable lessons and allowed me to forge meaningful friendships. Although I temporarily paused my sailing pursuits when I started university, I found a way to stay connected to the sport I love. In 2019 I began working as an Optimist race coach at the "Yacht Club Argentino". Sharing my knowledge and experiences with young sailors while also learning from them has been immensely rewarding. Whenever I get the chance, I enjoy joining the kids in Optimist regattas, fueling my own competitive spirit. In July 2022, I proudly graduated from the University of San Andrés, earning a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Economics. To further enhance my expertise in my field of study, I continue to pursue additional courses. Apart from sailing, I find immense joy in watching breathtaking sunsets, indulging in copious amounts of ice cream, and embarking on adventures to explore different corners of the world. Additionally, I am deeply passionate about promoting sustainability and seeking ways to improve the planet. I am excited to have the opportunity to join this outstanding team of coaches and sailors at the AYC club. I look forward to contributing with my knowledge and skills and creating an unforgettable summer together.
Chessie 420 Race Team Head Coach SEGUNDO FREGONESE Hi! My name is Segundo (which means second in Spanish), I’m 23 years old and from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I started sailing as a crew on Cadets when I was around 13, and after a few years skipping, a World Championship, three South American Championships and four Nationals, I moved onto 420s. From 2016 to 2019 me and my crew competed in every major national event and in two South American Championships as well. Three years in this class taught me so many things, related to sailing, racing, or just plain life lessons, and I enjoyed them on the race course and off it, since I competed against most of my best friends, and I’ll always cherish the knowledge gained and memories made. I have been coaching 420s since 2021 and discovered my passion for teaching. This will be my second summer at AYC, and I am so excited to go back to the Bay and keep learning as Head Coach of the Chessie Race Team. Back home, I am a project manager and creative at an international ad agency, and my other passion that makes me who I am is music! I play the drums and the guitar, and these will be one of the things I’ll miss the most besides family, friends, my 4 dogs and cat and argentinian food! Great summer ahead of us!
420 Race Team Head Coach MITCH POWELL I grew up sailing Opti’s along the gulf coast starting at age 7. As I grew older, I transitioned into Lasers and competed in the GYA circuit in the Flying Scott, representing Fairhope Yacht Club. I attended college at Florida State University where I served as Vice Commodore of the FSU Sailing Club. I was an active participant of the FSU Sailing Team in fleet racing and match racing. I was B Fleet skipper at both the 2018 and 2019 Co-ed College Sailing Nationals. I was previously the Chessie 420 coach at AYC where I enjoyed helping to facilitate the growth and development of young sailors as they transitioned into c420s. I was also a varsity coach for several high schools in the Annapolis area during the fall season of 2020, as well as a Basic Keelboating instructor at the US Naval Academy. I am currently the Head Opti RWB coach for Davis Island Youth Sailing Foundation in Tampa Florida, as well as a high school sailing coach for Plant High. Outside of college, I am heavily involved in the Lightning, J70, and Etchells class, and I recently purchased a Viper 640 to compete in the Gulf Coast circuit. I am ecstatic to be returning to Annapolis Yacht Club for another season with the Chessie 420 team, and I am looking forward to the start of the summer!
420 Race Team Assistant Coach DANIEL OFARRILL I was born in Mexico City, and I first started my sailing career when I was eight. At that time, my family and I had just moved to Acapulco, the perfect location to learn how to sail. I started out racing in the optimist class, but years later after achieving great results and representing my country in international events, I moved to the laser class. I raced for a couple of years in the Mexican national circuit and then became a national champion. After that, my family and I wanted to take my sailing career to the next step. So, when I was 15, we moved to Miami so that I could experience world-class sailing on a larger level. After first moving to Florida, I won multiple regattas across the state of Florida like the Florida district championship. I also finished 2nd place at the US laser national championship and represented my country at the Miami World cup. After that, I decided to start sailing in the 420 class. Like the laser class, I was also able to succeed in this class, winning the Orange Bowl International regatta and placing podium results around the c420 circuit. Because of my c420 results, Jacksonville University’s sailing team recruited me, and I was able to help my team qualify for nationals and win the semifinals during my freshman year. This was the first time in the program's history that the team won semifinals and qualify for the finals. After my college career, I started an Olympic campaign in the 470 class where I sailed head-to-head against the best sailors in the world. During this time, I gained some incredible experience and learned a lot more about sailing. As my passion for sailing and skills grew, I also started coaching on the side. Like sailing, I quickly fell in love with coaching. Being able to share sailing and what it means to me with other people is a truly phenomenal experience. I like seeing my students achieving their goals and overcoming challenges because it reminds me of how I felt when I first started sailing. Helping them prepare for the next step in their sailing careers also helps me see my racing from a different perspective. It keeps my head in the game even though when I’m not sailing. So far, I’ve had the chance to coach for eight years in different classes like the optimist, lasers, and 420s class, and I've helped many of my teams achieve podium results across the nation. Currently, I’m coaching one of the top-ranking high school teams in South Florida and working on my next project: winning the first Olympic medal in sailing for Mexico, sailing a 49er. And I'm grateful that throughout my sailing career, I’ve been exposed to and raced in classes like the optimist, lasers, 420, 470, Snipes, 29er, 49er, j24, farr 40, and tp52. In my free time, I also like to pursue my other passions: kiteboarding, wing foiling, tennis, traveling, and videography. Like sailing, I hope to continue doing these things I love and continue my videography work for OptiTv's YouTube channel.
420 Race Team Assistant Coach PALOMA GUTIERREZ I began sailing in Optimist when I was nine, and since then have been in love with the sport and the perspective it gives you on life. It is such an enjoyable outdoors activity that turned into a great part of my daily life. I have been the president of the National i420 Class Association for the past years, and nowadays I’m a coach for the i420 of the “Club Náutico San Isidro,” where recently, two of my sailors qualified for the Youth Worlds held in the Netherlands representing Argentina this year. I took part in many international events, highlighting the "2019 Youth Worlds" held in Poland where I represented my country and finished in fourth place. Regarding my coaching experience, last summer I coached C420 at Miles River Yacht Club for the season. Throughout the year I organized several clinics and intensive training sessions of i420 for starters and for the advanced level too. Ashore, I dedicate most of my time studying for a bachelor's degree in Communication and Digital Media at the University of Palermo. On top of that, I dedicate my free time to paint and draw, activities which I really enjoy, as well as writing and photography. I'm just very glad to be able to travel this year to pass on some knowledge and passion for sailing. I can't wait to meet all the young sailors and the rest of the staff at AYC and have a wonderful summer!
Opti RWB Celebrity Coach BRYCE TONE Bio Coming Soon.
420 Celebrity Coach ADAM WERBLOW Adam has been the Head Coach at St. Mary’s College of Maryland since 1988. During his tenure, the team has amassed 17 national titles, while Seahawk sailors have earned over 150 individual All-America honors. Adam has been the head coach for U.S. Youth Worlds Team eight times and led the team to two gold and two silver medals in 1991, the best record ever at those world championships. In 1999, he was named the Developmental Coach of the Year by the U.S. Sailing's Olympic Sailing Committee. In 2015, Adam was awarded the Graham Hall Award for Outstanding Service by a College Sailing Professional. Adam will be coaching the 420 Race Team. I'm just very glad to be able to travel this year to pass on some knowledge and passion for sailing. I can't wait to meet all the young sailors and the rest of the staff at AYC and have a wonderful summer!

Creek Critters/Sea Squirts Lead Instructor ANNA HOWELL Hi everybody! I'm from Annapolis, Maryland. At the age of nine, I was introduced to the sailing by my dad and aunt, who are both avid sailors and sailed out of SSA and AYC in their youth, but I started racing competitively when I began high school. I sailed with my high school sailing team at Severn School and at AYC during the summers with a focus on 420s and FJs. I am now a rising freshman at the University of Michigan where I will be studying Art and Design with a minor in Biology. When I'm not sailing, I love to lift weights and am always trying to beat my previous records. I also love to paint and draw, specifically with oil paint and charcoal, all while listening to music. I decided to become a coach because I think the skill and connections made through sailing is priceless and will last a lifetime, so I want to help pass them down to all the incoming sailors! This will be my first year coaching, but I couldn't be more excited. I can't wait to meet everybody this coming summer!
Creek Critters/Sea Squirts Assistant Instructor LILA GIBSON Hi! My name is Lila Gibson and I have lived in Annapolis my whole life. I am a member of the Severn School sailing team, where I have been sailing for over 3 years, and I am excited to continue sailing at the University of Virginia this fall. I love being out on the water and sharing my passion for sailing. A fun fact about me is that I have a chocolate lab named Kiwi and my favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate Oreo. I’m super excited to meet everyone- it’s going to be a great summer!
Creek Critters/Sea Squirts Assistant Instructor MORGAN SKIBO Hi! My name is Morgan Skibo and I was born in Annapolis and have sailed on the Chesapeake Bay since I was 5. I sailed 420's at AYC in past summers and since then have started sailing Harbor 20's. One of my favorite sailing adventures has been delivering a schooner from Bermuda to Rhode Island. I am a rising senior at Walter Johnson High School in Montgomery County, and I am captain of the cross country and track teams. I can't wait to meet everyone and pass on my love for sailing this summer!
Optimist ONE Head Coach JONATHAN WEED I was born in Arnold Maryland and started sailing in Annapolis when I was around 8. Starting in the optimist class I sailed for the Annapolis Yacht Club Green fleet, then Red, White, and Blue fleet. I then moved onto 420's and Lasers where I found my love for the Laser class. I have since joined the Broadneck sailing team and learned so much about the FJ class as well as Fleet and Team racing. It is my fourth and final year as a Broadneck sailor and my first year as team captain. It has been so fun to sail around the Country with a team I love and to watch it grow better and better with each event we go to. I am so excited to become a coach for the Annapolis Yacht Club Beginner Optimist class this summer because it is where I started my career; and it was because of this class I found so much love for the sport, so much love for the water and have made so many friends in the community along the way. It is my goal to make sure everyone who is in my class comes out of the course saying it was the most fun they've ever had and shares my love for the sport!
Optimist ONE Assistant Coach WILL DONALD My name is Will Donald and I have been sailing on the Chesapeake since I was six years old. I started my sailing career at the Tred Avon Yacht Club in Oxford, Maryland and then later transitioned to the Annapolis Yacht Club. I started sailing in Optis and raced them competitively all around the bay. I now mainly race my C420 and I am currently an active member of the varsity sailing team at St. Mary’s High School in Annapolis. I have always enjoyed teaching others about the sport I love and helping to lead them to success. I can hardly wait to help my sailors learn about the sport that has been such a huge part of my life.
Optimist ONE Assistant Coach CAMPBELL CONWAY Hi! My name is Campbell Conway, and I was born and raised in Annapolis, MD. I am a rising senior at St. Mary’s High School. I have sailed at AYC my entire life, starting at around seven years old. I started my sailing career in the optimist class where I was a part of the green fleet racing team, as well as the red, white, and blue racing team. Then, I continued into the 420 class which is where my love for sailing grew. I am also a captain of the varsity sailing team at my high school. When I am not on the water, I am on a lacrosse field. My favorite ice cream flavor is definitely Minty Moose Tracks from Storm Bro’s downtown. This is my first summer coaching at AYC, and I am super excited! I can’t wait to share my love for the sport with all the young sailors!

Bay 420 Head Coach TY RYAN Moving to Annapolis, Maryland exposed me to the world of sailing. I began sailing in 6th grade and first started out with summers and then started sailing year-round as I grew more competitive. Freshman year, I gratefully made the Varsity team at Archbishop Spalding High School. This is where my love for sailing really expanded. I've sailed at Archbishop Spalding and Annapolis high school for 4 years now being captain of the Spalding team. I have also competed on the AYC 420 Race Team for two summers. However, this is my first summer coaching sailing, but I am so happy to be here! Outside of sailing, you can see me at the ice rink or College of Charleston where I plan to sail.
Bay 420 Assistant Coach CHLOE HUDGINS Hi everyone! I am super excited to join the AYC team this summer. I am currently a senior at the College of Charleston in South Carolina studying history and political science and a student-athlete on the sailing team. I grew up sailing in my hometown of Jensen Beach, FL at the US Sailing Center of Martin County. I sailed the Optimist and Club 420 and then trained in the International 420 until I started college sailing. This season I crewed at Women’s Team and Fleet Race Nationals. I started coaching when I turned 16 and haven’t stopped since. My first coaching opportunity was at my home club where I coached the beginner and advanced learn-to-sail Optimist as well as the introduction and advanced Club 420s. Last summer I coached the Tred Avon Yacht Club 420 race team. When I’m not sailing (which isn’t often!), you can find me playing pickleball with my friends or reading a good book. My favorite ice cream flavor is Jeni’s Wildberry Lavender. I am passionate about building up the next generation of sailors and inspiring a love of the water in everyone I coach. I am pumped to spend the summer in Annapolis!
Keelboat Coach JAMES GOLDEN Bio Coming Soon.

Adventure Boating Instructor WYNNE WILLIAMS I’m Wynne Williams, and I have been sailing out of AYC since I was five years old. I went through the whole program, from creek critters to the 420 high-performance race team. I now race C420s in the AYC High School Program and have been the co-captain of the DC Combo varsity sailing team for three years, along with another AYC coach Willem Desimone. I will attend Cornell University this fall to study math and music. A fun fact about me is that I play the saxophone. I even performed live at a concert with country star Zach Bryan! I have loved sailing since I started at AYC and am incredibly excited to help foster the new generation of sailors and teach them to love the sport as much as I have throughout my life.
Adventure Boating Jr. Instructor JAMES RONAYNE My name is James Ronayne and I am stoked to be back at AYC for the summer of 2023. I am lucky enough to have grown up on the Chesapeake Bay where I learned to sail, fish and become an avid waterman. I began racing optis out of the Miles River Yacht Club when I was 8 and since then I have been in love with the sport. I have sailed in many different fleets around the bay and learned from each experience. Some fun facts about me are that I am learning more about foiling boards, I am a huge oyster nerd, I exhibit my Environmental Photography all around the state, and Kenny Chesney wrote “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem” after meeting me. I am so excited for an awesome summer!

CHARLIE LANGEMAK I have been a skipper for St. Mary’s Highschool for the last two years- racing 420’s in the Fall. I have grown up on the Magothy River in the Beachwood neighborhood with my 3 other brothers. I have a Hobie 16. I have been lucky enough to be in the St. Thomas Yacht Club Hobie Races. I learned to Sail when I was 8 years old with the Magothy River Sailing Association, where I took first place at the end of camp Regatta. I compete yearly with USASA in Slopestyle snowboarding where I train weekly at Seven Springs in PA. I have been invited to USASA Nationals 3 times. I have a love for the British Virgin Islands where I have sailed many of the islands. My favorite spot is inside the Norman Island Caves. My favorite ice cream flavor is Banana but it is hard to find so I make do with Cookie Dough. My family has been involved with AYC camps & high school sailing for the past 9 years.
MORGAN SKIBO Hi! My name is Morgan Skibo and I was born in Annapolis and have sailed on the Chesapeake Bay since I was 5. I sailed 420's at AYC in past summers and since then have started sailing Harbor 20's. One of my favorite sailing adventures has been delivering a schooner from Bermuda to Rhode Island. I am a rising senior at Walter Johnson High School in Montgomery County, and I am captain of the cross country and track teams. I can't wait to meet everyone and pass on my love for sailing this summer!
LILLY BAKER My name is Lilly Baker and I just graduated from Severn School where I am the co-captain of the sailing team and have sailed for four years, helping my team place 3rd at both Team Race and Fleet Race Nationals my sophomore year as well as 3rd at Team Race and 2nd at Fleet Race Nationals my junior year. And this year, we placed 1st, taking home the Team Racing National Championship! I was also recruited to sail at Dartmouth College where I’ll be attending this Fall! I’ve lived in Annapolis my whole life and started sailing in AYC camps when I was four and continued until I started racing on the C420 Travel Race team in 2020! I’ve loved all of my time in the AYC Junior Sailing Program, and I can’t wait to give back to the next generation of Annapolis sailors!!
Helena English Hi, my name is Helena English and I have been sailing in Annapolis since I was 5! I learned to sail at Eastport Yacht Club in Opti’s and have also sailed sonars, 420’s, FJ’s, J24’s and more! I am currently a rising senior at Severn School and I'm planning on going to college for sailing! My favorite thing to do is sail and spend time on the water, so I'm super excited to share my love for sailing with other this summer!
Stella Kim Bio Coming Soon.

Claire Keyes

Hi! My name is Claire Keyes. I grew up in Washington D.C. but learned to sail while spending my summers in Annapolis where I now live. I am a rising junior at Mount De Sales Academy in Baltimore. I love sailing and spending time on or near the water, especially paddleboarding. The Chesapeake Bay and the surrounding waters are an amazing resource that I’m determined to continue exploring and protecting. I sail for the Annapolis Yacht Club’s varsity high school team. In 2022, I was an instructor at the Annapolis Sailing School where I taught the youngest campers the basics. I have raced a range of boats from 420s to Rainbows. A fun fact about me is that I am a violinist and in past summers I had the amazing opportunity to perform and tour across Europe. This is my first summer coaching at AYC and I am excited to share my passion for this special sport.