COVID-19 & Our Campus
To learn about how COVID-19 has affected our campus and the changes we have made, read the statement on our homepage at www.hrmm.org.
To learn about how COVID-19 has affected our campus and the changes we have made, read the statement on our homepage at www.hrmm.org.
2023 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 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.
Betsy O'Toole (she/ her)
Betsy has a US Sailing Small Boat Level One, USS Small Boat Level Two, and USS Basic Keelboat Instructor certifications, and she is obtaining her 25 ton USCG Captain's license with sailing and towing endorsements. She's from Albany but spent summers sailing on Cape Cod. She taught sailing there for five years and is now returning for her third year at HRMM.
Betsy just graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a Masters in English Literature.
Betsy volunteers for Kingston Sailing Club's WOW (women on the water), POW (people on the water), and Adventure sail, and did presentations at the Riverport Women's Sailing Conferences in 2021 and 2023.
M.J. Reese (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.
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.
John Mehalak (he/him)
John has been sailing for four years with the Sea Scouts. He also has worked at the HRMM as a dock assistant and a deckhand on our tour boat Solaris since 2021. John is completing his freshman year of college. John is a US Sailing Certified Small Boat Level One Instructor. He taught for The Sailing School at HRMM in 2022, and we are happy he is returning to teach with again!
John has been sailing for four years with the Sea Scouts. He also has worked at the HRMM as a dock assistant and a deckhand on our tour boat Solaris since 2021. John is completing his freshman year of college. John is a US Sailing Certified Small Boat Level One Instructor. He taught for The Sailing School at HRMM in 2022, and we are happy he is returning to teach with again!
Lily Peacock (they/them)
Lily is from New Jersey, and they started sailing with the Hudson River Maritime Museum in 2018, growing their skills with the sailing program each year. They are completing their senior year in high school. Lily earned their Small Boat Level One Instructor Certification in 2022 and taught for The Sailing School in 2022 as an assistant instructor. We are excited Lily will be returning as a full instructor in 2023!
Lily is from New Jersey, and they started sailing with the Hudson River Maritime Museum in 2018, growing their skills with the sailing program each year. They are completing their senior year in high school. Lily earned their Small Boat Level One Instructor Certification in 2022 and taught for The Sailing School in 2022 as an assistant instructor. We are excited Lily will be returning as a full instructor in 2023!
Gray Lobell (he/him)
Gray is from New Paltz, NY, and he is completing his junior year at New Paltz High School. He has 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, and we are excited he will be returning to work with the Sailing School in 2023!
Gray is from New Paltz, NY, and he is completing his junior year at New Paltz High School. He has 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, and we are excited he will be returning to work with the Sailing School in 2023!
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 will be earning his US Sailing Small Boat Level One Assistant Instructor Certificate in June of 2023. We are excited to welcome Ethan aboard as an assistant sailing instructor!
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 will be earning his US Sailing Small Boat Level One Assistant Instructor Certificate in June of 2023. We are excited to welcome Ethan aboard as an assistant sailing instructor!
Henry Shannon (he/him)
Henry started sailing in 2017 with the HRMM and is excited to now be an instructor here too. He is completing his sophomore year at Kingston High school and is also on the swim team, rowing team and in the band. Henry will be earning his US Sailing Small Boat Level One Assistant Instructor Certificate in June of 2023. We're excited to welcome him as a new assistant sailing instructor!
Henry started sailing in 2017 with the HRMM and is excited to now be an instructor here too. He is completing his sophomore year at Kingston High school and is also on the swim team, rowing team and in the band. Henry will be earning his US Sailing Small Boat Level One Assistant Instructor Certificate in June of 2023. We're excited to welcome him as a new assistant sailing instructor!
Amy Cahill (she/her)
Amy first became enamored with sailing as a guest oceanographic researcher aboard the 134 ft tall ship SSV Corwith Cramer as it sailed along the coast of Spain through the Strait of Gibraltar. Upon returning home, Amy enrolled in sailing courses at HRMM and began racing with Kingston Sailing Club. She kept busy this past winter by renovating a friend’s older boat and taking the course for the U.S. Coast Guard Master License. Amy will be earning her US Sailing Basic Keelboat Instructor Certification in June, and we are super excited to have her join the team!
Amy first became enamored with sailing as a guest oceanographic researcher aboard the 134 ft tall ship SSV Corwith Cramer as it sailed along the coast of Spain through the Strait of Gibraltar. Upon returning home, Amy enrolled in sailing courses at HRMM and began racing with Kingston Sailing Club. She kept busy this past winter by renovating a friend’s older boat and taking the course for the U.S. Coast Guard Master License. Amy will be earning her US Sailing Basic Keelboat Instructor Certification in June, and we are super excited to have her join the team!
Joshua Mandel (he/him)
Josh spent many years sailing out of Croton Point on the Hudson. He taught sailing for Port Sailing School in New Rochelle and previously taught for HRMM in 2019. He has a number of American Sailing Association Certifications. Josh also has a sailed many boats in various offshore experiences. After retiring as a school principal, Josh spent the last two years cruising the East coast on board his Catalina 375. Josh also has great boat work skills, and he has volunteered many hours maintaining and repairing our Sailing School boats. Josh will be earning his US Sailing Basic Keelboat Instructor Certification in June of 2023. We are delighted to have him return to teach with our school!
Josh spent many years sailing out of Croton Point on the Hudson. He taught sailing for Port Sailing School in New Rochelle and previously taught for HRMM in 2019. He has a number of American Sailing Association Certifications. Josh also has a sailed many boats in various offshore experiences. After retiring as a school principal, Josh spent the last two years cruising the East coast on board his Catalina 375. Josh also has great boat work skills, and he has volunteered many hours maintaining and repairing our Sailing School boats. Josh will be earning his US Sailing Basic Keelboat Instructor Certification in June of 2023. We are delighted to have him return to teach with our school!
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 program on the Hudson. A classic jack of all trades who loves to share a passion for sailing and the river, Jon is a valuable addition to the Sailing School team!
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 program on the Hudson. A classic jack of all trades who loves to share a passion for sailing and the river, Jon is a valuable addition to the Sailing School team!