Our Coaches
Committed to the Development and Safety of our Young Sailors Our US Sailing Certified Coaches and Instructors are experienced sailors with a love of teaching sailing to the next generation. Every Coach and Instructor we hire is prepared to share their diverse experiences in sailing with our program’s youth to engage and motivate them to succeed both on and off the water. All of our Coaches and Instructors are required to have the following certifications:
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STAFF Executive Director - Kelley Severns Kelley is a US Sailing Level 3 Certified instructor with extensive experience in both the for profit and non-profit worlds. Before her transition to the youth sailing industry, Kelley was a civil engineer program and project manager in the bridge industry. She has worked as a board member, waterfront coordinator and youth programs coordinator in Nashville, TN ( Percy Priest Yacht Club, Harbor Island Yacht Club, Nashville Sailing Foundation) and St. Croix, USVI (Waterfront Coordinator - St. Croix Yacht Club). She lives in Cape Coral, FL with her husband Dave and has three children - Jenna, Jordan and Gunner. School Year Sailing Director - Henry Millette Henry has been working as a sailing coach since 2011 primarily in the area around New York City. He has worked at several different yacht clubs and organizations including Larchmont Yacht Club (Larchmont, NY), New York Athletic Club (Pelham, NY) , and Indian Harbor Yacht Club (Greenwich, CT), where he is currently both the primary coach of their Optimist Race Team as well as the club's Head Coach. In addition to his role at Indian Harbor, Henry is the Head Coach of the Greenwich High School Varsity Sailing Team as well as a private coach that works with multiple different Opti, Laser, 420 (both I and C), and Feva sailors/teams. He is a firm believer in the potential of community sailing organizations to serve as an ideal platform to enable local sailors (both young and not-so-young) to fall in love with the sport and develop the skills to compete at whatever level they aspire to. He is thus very excited to begin working on taking the VYBA program to the next level! Henry is a graduate of Boston College that lives in Mamaroneck, NY with his girlfriend, Georgia, and her Maltese Shih Tzu, Bert. Head Senior Coach - Alex Kirchgaesser Alex is a student at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, but is currently in Venice with his family. Alex will be working with C420s, Lasers and Adult Sailing. He is a Level 2 US Sailing Certified Instructor. He has served as a program manager and instructor at the American Yacht Club in New York. He was also a competitive Laser sailor and instructor at the Larchmont Yacht Club in New York for many years. Current Spring 2021 Coaches
Alyssa Jongsma – Opti Coach / Adult and Family Sail Race Committee and Safety - Level 1 US Sailing Certified - Member – C420/High School Race Team - Past – Opti Green and RWB with VYBA - 2020 Summer Learn to Sail Instructor Zoe Watson – Adventure Sail / Adult and Family Sail Race Committee and Safety - Level 1 US Sailing Certified - Member – High School Race Team - Past – Opti Green/ RWB/ C420 with VYBA - 2020 Summer Learn to Sail Instructor Molly James – Adventure Sail / Adult and Family Sail Race Committee and Safety - Level 1 US Sailing Certified - Member – C420/High School Race Team - 2020 Summer Learn to Sail Instructor Kane Fenton – Opti Coach - Level 1 US Sailing Certified - Member – C420/High School Race Team - 2020 Summer Learn to Sail Instructor Peyton Dec – Opti Coach / Adventure Sail - Level 1 US Sailing Certified - Member – C420/High School Race Team - 2020 Summer Learn to Sail Instructor Davis Whitehead - Volunteer Coach - Member C420/High School Race Team |
Our Board of Directors Our Board of Directors is a highly effective group of community leaders, parents and sailors working hard to make sure the VYBA operates effectively and efficiently. Edmund (Ed) B. Campbell, III - Chair Florence Fauls - Vice Chair Richard (Dick) Lawson - Secretary Joseph A. Occhino - Treasurer Shaun D. Graser D.M.D. - Director Michael Kirk - Director Kim Whiteman - Director Renee Fenton - Director Bruce Furman - Director |
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CONTACT US:
Executive Director - Kelley Severns
1330 Tarpon Center Drive, Venice, FL 34285
941-468-1719
director@veniceyouthboating.com