2024 Sailing Instructors
Sailing Program Director Jody Sterling (she/her)
Jody has sailed since she was six years old, first on Long Island Sound, racing on a variety of centerboard and keel boats throughout her childhood. She taught sailing in high school and college. Moving to the Hudson Valley in her twenties introduced her to the beautiful Hudson River. Jody retired from a career as an English professor in 2017 and happily focuses more of her energies on sailing now. She tries to make at least one long sailing trip each year, sailing the length of the Hudson from Kingston to New York Harbor and out East on Long Island Sound to various destinations, including Block Island and beyond. Jody is a US Sailing Certified Small Boat Level One Instructor and a Certified Basic Keelboat Instructor. She also holds a US Coast Guard Captain's 25 Ton Masters License. Jody will continue to lead the sailing school in 2024.
Jody has sailed since she was six years old, first on Long Island Sound, racing on a variety of centerboard and keel boats throughout her childhood. She taught sailing in high school and college. Moving to the Hudson Valley in her twenties introduced her to the beautiful Hudson River. Jody retired from a career as an English professor in 2017 and happily focuses more of her energies on sailing now. She tries to make at least one long sailing trip each year, sailing the length of the Hudson from Kingston to New York Harbor and out East on Long Island Sound to various destinations, including Block Island and beyond. Jody is a US Sailing Certified Small Boat Level One Instructor and a Certified Basic Keelboat Instructor. She also holds a US Coast Guard Captain's 25 Ton Masters License. Jody will continue to lead the sailing school in 2024.
M.J. Reiss (she/her)
M.J. grew up racing and coaching one-design racing on dinghies on Long Island Sound and learned how to race with a whisper of a breeze and strong currents. She then moved on to leading Outward Bound Courses in all sorts of weather, (standard 25 knots) at Hurricane Island Outward Bound off of Rockland Maine and in the Florida Keys as Course Director. Being a retired Earth Science teacher from Kingston High School fits in nicely with her experience on the water.
MJ is a US Sailing Certified Basic Keelboat Instructor, and she holds a USCG Masters 25 ton Sailing License & Towing Assistance for Inland Waters.
MJ has taught at our sailing school since 2017, and she is a valuable member of the team! We are very glad she will be with us in 2024.
M.J. grew up racing and coaching one-design racing on dinghies on Long Island Sound and learned how to race with a whisper of a breeze and strong currents. She then moved on to leading Outward Bound Courses in all sorts of weather, (standard 25 knots) at Hurricane Island Outward Bound off of Rockland Maine and in the Florida Keys as Course Director. Being a retired Earth Science teacher from Kingston High School fits in nicely with her experience on the water.
MJ is a US Sailing Certified Basic Keelboat Instructor, and she holds a USCG Masters 25 ton Sailing License & Towing Assistance for Inland Waters.
MJ has taught at our sailing school since 2017, and she is a valuable member of the team! We are very glad she will be with us in 2024.
Jon Hansen (he, him)
Jon learned to sail on the Hudson as a child and grew up living on a sailboat and cruising the East coast and West Indies. He has a USCG master 50 tons near coastal licensed with sailing endorsement., and he is US basic Keelboat instructor certified. Jon has worked for many years running charters and youth sailing programs on the Hudson. Jon is a classic jack of all trades who loves to share a passion for sailing and the river.
Jon taught youth and adults at our school in 2023. We are delighted he will be teaching with our school again in 2024. Jon is also our Fleet Captain, in charge of maintaining all our sailboats.
We are excited to have Jon on our team in 2024!
Anthony McGovern, he, him)
Our new Head Youth Sailing Instructor Anthony started sailing in his teens on the Long Island Sound, where he raced Blue Jays, 420's, and Lasers. He taught sailing throughout high school and college at yacht clubs and community sailing centers on the north shore of Long Island, Boston, and NYC. Most recently, he worked for the sailing club at ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina before moving to the Hudson Valley. Anthony is a US Sailing Certified Small Boat Level One Instructor and a Certified US Sailing Basic Keelboat Instructor. We are excited to have Anthony part of the The Sailing School at HRMM in April 2024. He will lead our wonderful team of youth sailing instructors admirably! |
Max Smith (he/him)
Max learned to sail in a scout summer camp program when he was a teenager. He found every excuse he could to get out on the water and sail the camp Sunfish. After moving to Beacon in 2017, he rediscovered his passion for sailing with the Beacon Sloop Club, helping to sail the 31’ gaff-rigged WOODY GUTHRIE. During the pandemic, he built a 15 foot plywood and epoxy Goat Island Skiff, which has become his main sailing boat. With this skiff, he has explored the Hudson river from Coldspring up to Kingston, and occasionally trailered it to the Connecticut river, the Norwalk, islands, and Mystic, Connecticut.
Through building, rigging, and sailing his own small boat, Max has gained a keen sense of the effects of wind, current, and weather conditions in a variety of situations. He is currently working to complete his US Sailing Basic Keelboat Instructor certification to be ready for the 2024 for sailing season.
We are so pleased to have Max join our team!
Max learned to sail in a scout summer camp program when he was a teenager. He found every excuse he could to get out on the water and sail the camp Sunfish. After moving to Beacon in 2017, he rediscovered his passion for sailing with the Beacon Sloop Club, helping to sail the 31’ gaff-rigged WOODY GUTHRIE. During the pandemic, he built a 15 foot plywood and epoxy Goat Island Skiff, which has become his main sailing boat. With this skiff, he has explored the Hudson river from Coldspring up to Kingston, and occasionally trailered it to the Connecticut river, the Norwalk, islands, and Mystic, Connecticut.
Through building, rigging, and sailing his own small boat, Max has gained a keen sense of the effects of wind, current, and weather conditions in a variety of situations. He is currently working to complete his US Sailing Basic Keelboat Instructor certification to be ready for the 2024 for sailing season.
We are so pleased to have Max join our team!
Gray Lobell (he/him)
Gray is from New Paltz, NY, and he is completing his senior year at New Paltz High School. He sailed for six years with the HRMM and helped as a student mentor in 2021 before joining the staff as an assistant instructor in 2022. He earned a US Sailing Small Boat Level One Assistant Instructor certificate in 2022, has taught with our youth sailing program for two years. Gray is currently working on earning his US Sailing Keelboat Instructor certification.
We are excited Gray will be returning to work with the Sailing School, teaching youth and adults in 2024!
Gray is from New Paltz, NY, and he is completing his senior year at New Paltz High School. He sailed for six years with the HRMM and helped as a student mentor in 2021 before joining the staff as an assistant instructor in 2022. He earned a US Sailing Small Boat Level One Assistant Instructor certificate in 2022, has taught with our youth sailing program for two years. Gray is currently working on earning his US Sailing Keelboat Instructor certification.
We are excited Gray will be returning to work with the Sailing School, teaching youth and adults in 2024!
Ethan Bates (he/him)
Ethan has participated with The Sailing School at HRMM since 2017, he was raised on the water. and he has lots of experience with a variety of boats. Ethan was a mentor with our program in 2021 and 2022, and he earned his US Sailing Small Boat Level One Assistant Instructor Certificate in 2023.
Ethan taught with our school in 2023, and we are excited to welcome back as an assistant sailing instructor in 2024!
Ethan has participated with The Sailing School at HRMM since 2017, he was raised on the water. and he has lots of experience with a variety of boats. Ethan was a mentor with our program in 2021 and 2022, and he earned his US Sailing Small Boat Level One Assistant Instructor Certificate in 2023.
Ethan taught with our school in 2023, and we are excited to welcome back as an assistant sailing instructor in 2024!
Henry Shannon (he/him)
Henry started sailing in 2017 with the HRMM, and is happy to be an instructor here too.
Henry is completing his junior year at Kingston High school, and he is also on the swim team, rowing team and in the band.
Henry earned his US Sailing Small Boat Level One Assistant Instructor Certificate in 2023. He taught with our school in 2023.
We're excited to welcome Henry back as a assistant sailing instructor in 2024!
Henry started sailing in 2017 with the HRMM, and is happy to be an instructor here too.
Henry is completing his junior year at Kingston High school, and he is also on the swim team, rowing team and in the band.
Henry earned his US Sailing Small Boat Level One Assistant Instructor Certificate in 2023. He taught with our school in 2023.
We're excited to welcome Henry back as a assistant sailing instructor in 2024!
Isabel Czech (she/her)
Isabel Czech is from Salt point, New York, has been sailing for years on a variety of small centerboard boats and keel boats. She sailed with our youth program as a student for seven years.
Isabel earned US Sailing Level One Small Boat Assistant Instructor certification in 2022 and taught for us in that year. Currently, Isabel is working on her EMT certification.
Isabel was an assistant instructor at the Riverport Women's Sailing Conference in March, 2024, and we are delighted she will be teaching with us as an assistant instructor in the Youth Sailing Program again in 2024.
Isabel Czech is from Salt point, New York, has been sailing for years on a variety of small centerboard boats and keel boats. She sailed with our youth program as a student for seven years.
Isabel earned US Sailing Level One Small Boat Assistant Instructor certification in 2022 and taught for us in that year. Currently, Isabel is working on her EMT certification.
Isabel was an assistant instructor at the Riverport Women's Sailing Conference in March, 2024, and we are delighted she will be teaching with us as an assistant instructor in the Youth Sailing Program again in 2024.
Sam Yaffe (she/her)
Sam is completing her junior year at Hunter College High School.
Sam learned to sail with the HRMM Sailing School, and has been part of the program for several years. She was a Youth Sailing Program mentor in 2022 and 2023, and she is earning a US Sailing Small Boat Level One Assistant Instructor Certificate for the 2024 season.
We are so pleased Sam will be teaching with our team in 2024!
Sam is completing her junior year at Hunter College High School.
Sam learned to sail with the HRMM Sailing School, and has been part of the program for several years. She was a Youth Sailing Program mentor in 2022 and 2023, and she is earning a US Sailing Small Boat Level One Assistant Instructor Certificate for the 2024 season.
We are so pleased Sam will be teaching with our team in 2024!
Lia Huszti (she/her)
Lia is from New York City, and she has completed her senior year at Laguardia High School.
Lia learned to sail at our Sailing School over the past four years. She was a sailing school student mentor in 2023. Lia is currently working on earning her US Sailing Small Boat Level One Assistant Instructor Certificate, and she will be teaching with us in 2024.
Lia is very excited to work with HRMM, and we are pleased to have her on our team!
Lia is from New York City, and she has completed her senior year at Laguardia High School.
Lia learned to sail at our Sailing School over the past four years. She was a sailing school student mentor in 2023. Lia is currently working on earning her US Sailing Small Boat Level One Assistant Instructor Certificate, and she will be teaching with us in 2024.
Lia is very excited to work with HRMM, and we are pleased to have her on our team!