Rob is a USCG 100 ton Masters-Licensed Captain and US Sailing Instructor. Born and raised in Chicago, he has been sailing the Great Lakes and inland waters since the age of seven. As an avid sailor, he is passionate about environmental protection and loves teaching experiential education and youth development. His past experience includes Wilderness … Read more
“The sea has always drawn me in with its mystery and complexity—an immense, living system where everything is connected. My time on the water has shown me how fragile that balance can be, motivating me to protect it through education and action so others can experience the ocean as I have.” Jackie Ruggieri grew up … Read more
Sarah “Say” Craig is a passionate environmental activist and outrigger canoe racer, using her paddle to raise awareness. From a young age, Say learned that ignoring waste was becoming the norm. When working as a janitor in high school, she often found herself in a dumpster, trying to fit in all the trash because her employer … Read more
“Reduce waste, protect oceans, and inspire action—because our oceans support marine life, human health, and the planet we all share.” Chloe is a high school student who grew up near the ocean. She started sailing Naples sabots at a young age and now competes in the 29er and C420 classes. Outside of sailing, she enjoys … Read more
Bjarne Patuel Nielson has spent more than 40 years on the ocean around the world. As a competitive and recreational sailor, as well as a lifeguard, and now serving in his fifth year as OA Principal Officer at the Royal Danish Yacht Club (KDY), Bjarne has a wide understanding of sailing and the sea. Since … Read more
Catherine has always had a passion for the sea and has been living and working across the world’s oceans for two decades. From the West Coast of Canada where she grew up, to the Caribbean where she works as a Charter and Delivery Skipper and Dive Master, to the high latitudes of Svalbard and the … Read more
Cortney Kingsley is currently the Education Programs Manager for Sail Newport in Newport, RI. She has been around the water her whole life and considers herself fortunate to have learned many water sports including sailing. She has used sailing as a medium to teach others about the ocean and to learn more about the ocean herself! She feels … Read more
Barb spent her 20’s and 30’s sailing from Alaska to Nova Scotia annually – always on the move, on everything from a 100-foot wooden schooner to an 88-foot ketch and 160-foot power boat. As a chef before widespread recycling was available, planning and managing your environmental footprint was essential to the operations of the boat, … Read more
Maya Hoffman grew up sailing in a National Marine Sanctuary in Monterey, CA, which sparked a lifelong passion and love for the marine environment. She is a member of the Whale Entanglement Team and has assisted in the disentanglement of many humpbacks. Maya is a national level inshore racer in the Shields class and Santa … Read more
“I believe all sailors are naturalists at heart, and think it’s an obligation for those of us to lucky enough to enjoy this sport to take Emerson’s advice, to define success not just by winning Regattas, but by leaving the world better than we found it. It’s more important than ever for those of us … Read more
