Scott Williamson, Program Director (Read a letter from Scott.)

Scott teaches Middle School Social Studies and is an avid sailor, who brings 20 years of experience teaching and managing youth both in the classroom and on the water. Directing the TAYC Jr. Sailing Program since 2009, Scott continues to successfully shape and manage our junior program from year-to-year to meet the needs of our sailors and their families. Through his leadership, TAYC juniors receive excellent coaches and grow to develop a true love of sailing and a passion for all the sport has to offer. Scott is supported by a wonderful group of clubs members, who thankfully serve on the Jr. Sailing Committee. The program is currenlty building a coaching staff for 2013.  Contact Scott if you are interested in coaching our juniors next summer (juniorsail@tayc.com).

2013 Coaching Staff Head Coach - Introduction to Sailing (Full Day) Hannah Dickmyer Head Coach - Introduction to Sailing Isabelle Hale Assistant Coach - Introduction to Sailing Bruce Helmly Head Coach - Beginner 1 Susannah Brooks Head Coach - Beginner 2 Meredith Hartge Assistant Coach - Beginner 1 & 2 Max Boot Head Coach - Sportsman Matt Rajacich Head Coach - Opti Green Fleet Mariah Leffingwell Head Coach - TAYC Opti Racing Team Victor Diaz de Leon Assistant Coach - TAYC Opti Racing Team Nicole Hause Head Coach - C420/Laser Development Team Chris Brady Assistant Coach - C420/Laser Development Team Eric Siegel

 

Hannah Dickmyer, Head Coach - Introduction to Sailing (Full Day)

Hannah is a freshman at St. Mary's College of Maryland and is a member of their offshore sailing team.  She has been coaching at MRYC for the past two summers, supporting the Green Fleet and Sea Kids (ages 6-7). Hannah is known for her sailing knowledge and enthusiasm for the sport. We are lucky to have this experienced coach join us this summer.

 

Isabelle Hale, Head Coach - Introduction to Sailing

Isabelle recently graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied Occupational Therapy and actively participated as captain of the university sailing team. She is now preparing for her graduate studies and looking forward to a third summer working with our youngest juniors at TAYC. Isabelle's patients and enthusiasm never fails to inspire and we are lucky to have her for another season.

Bruce Helmly, Assistant Coach - Introduction to Sailing

 

Susannah Brooks, Head Coach - Beginner 1

Susannah is finishing up her studies at Elon University and is looking forward to beginning a career as an Elementary School Teacher. As the most senior member of the coaching staff at TAYC, this will be Susannah's ninth summer supporting our Beginner sailors. With this experience, she teaches the fundamentals and helps juniors build the confidence to take that next step.

Meredith Hartge, Head Coach - Beginner 2

Meredith is a senior at Roanoke College and is excited to return for her seventh summer at TAYC to coach our sailors in Beginner 2. We have known Meredith since she started in Optis at age eight in our junior program and we have watched her excel in C420s and J-22s. A very skilled sailor, Meredith brings her wide range of sailing experiences to her coaching style to help our beginner juniors reach the next level.

Max Boot, Assistant Coach - Beginner 1 & 2

Max has sailed a wide range of dinghies since age 8, and started sailing competitively in college on the offshore sailing team and varsity dinghy team at St. Mary's College of Maryland. Max is currently a sophomore and is an active and valued member of the team.  With a wonderful enthusiasm for sailing, we look forward to have Max join our staff this summer to support our Beginner 1 & 2 sailors.

Matt Rajacich, Head Coach Sportsman

Matt is a freshman at University of Rode Island and has been sailing since his junior years in our program.  Now a member of sailing team at URI, Matt continues to broaden his sailing skills and strengthen his passion for the sport while he studies Ocean Engineering. Matt will be an excellent coach for our Sportsman sailors because of his time in all junior one-design classes and beyond dinghies with his experience in the PHRF fleet on the Chesapeake. We are excited to have Matt join our staff this summer.

 

Mariah Leffingwell, Head Coach - Opti Green Fleet

Mariah started sailing Optis at TAYC at age nine and quickly became one of the program's most enthusiastic juniors. As she matured and developed as a sailor, Mariah was often observed looking after her fellow juniors, especially the youngest sailors, and soon became young leader within the program. Four years ago, she advanced into the C420 Class and is known for her sportsmanship and regatta success. Now a freshman at St. Mary's College of Maryland, Mariah is continuing her studies and sailing. We are excited that Mariah returning to our excellent staff to coach and support our Green Fleet.

Victor Diaz de Leon, Head Coach - TAYC Opti Racing Team

Victor started sailing at a competitive level at age nine and has been racing at a national level since then. At age 12, Victor began coaching Opti sailors on the Venezuelan National Opti Team and continued coaching sailors in the U.S. at AYC, Shelter Island YC, and LISOT. We are very excited to have Victor join our coaching staff after he graduates in the spring from St. Mary's College, where his is currently studying economics and is a skipper on the sailing team. Read more about Coach Victor.

Nicole Hause, Assistant Coach - TAYC Opti Racing Team

Nicole is a junior at the College of Charleston and is a member of the varsity sailing team. She sailed in the TAYC Junior Program through age twelve, and was invited to become a member of the Chesapeake Bay Optimist Team at age thirteen. After aging out of Optis, Nicole came back to TAYC and moved to Lasers, where she finished 2nd in the CBYRA Highpoint standings in 2008 and 5th in 2009. Nicole loves to travel and compete in regattas and looks forward to bringing this enthusiasm while coaching the TAYC Opti Racing Team.

 

Chris Brady, Head Coach - C420/Laser Development Team

Chris had an accomplished collegiate sailing career while in college at St. Mary's and continued coaching juniors in Lasers and C420s a few summers after graduating in 2004. Eventually Chris became a high school civics teacher in Anne Arundel County and has built a successful teaching career over the last several years. Chris took a break a few summers ago to campaign a 505 and we are very excited that he has come back to coaching to support our sailors achieve their competitive goals. Read more about Coach Chris.

 

Eric Siegel, Assistant Coach - C420/Laser Development Team

Eric started sailing Lasers as a junior at Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club in Kilmarnock, VA. He continued sailing competitively year round, while coaching Lasers and sailing C420s at a national level on the varsity team at Christchurch School. Receiving the honor of Most Valuable Skipper in 2012 before graduating high school, Eric is now a freshman at Washington College and is a member of the varsity sailing team. We look forward to having Eric join our staff this summer to support sailors on the C420/Laser Development Team. Read more about Coach Eric.