Coaches and staff
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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VYBA Head Coach John Thomas Coach Thomas has been with VYBA for a long time and has wron many hats. He is a huge asset to the VYBA and brings extensive knowledge to the sailors. Coach Thomas is not only the Head Coach but he is also coaching the Venice high School Sailing Team and advising the race team coaches. |
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| Senior Coach Zoe Watson Zoe has been sailing her whole life, learning to sail Optis when she was just 5 years old. She is a US Sailing Level 2 certified Instructor and attends the State Collage of Florida. Zoe has been with VYBA for about 9 years as a sailor and coach now taking on the Summer head coach position this past summer. |
Summer Head Coach Alyssa Jongsma Alyssa has been sailing for nine years at VYBA and is now a US Sailing Level 2 Certified coach. She currently races C420s, Lasers and is the Co-Captain of the Venice High School Sailing Team. Alyssa coaches the RWB Opti race team during the school year. |
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| Senior Coach Kane Fenton Kane has been been sailing for over 5 years. He currently races C420s and is the Co-Captain of the Venice High School Sailing Team. Kane is a certified US Sailing Level 2 instructor and coaches the Opti Green Fleet race team during the school year |
Coach Abe Reynolds Abe has been sailing for five years now with VYBA and is on the Venice High School Sailing Team. He has also sailed on the Opti RWB and C420 teams in his past. Abe has extensive knowledge in the Racing Rules of Sailing and strives to make every sailor have fun. Abe is a level 2 Sailing Instructor and has worked with VYBA for 2 years. |
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Coach Emma Watson Emma has been sailing her whole life growing up on a sailboat and starting her sailing career as a tadpole with the Sarasota Youth Sailing. She has been sailing with the Venice Youth Boating for about 9 years and sails on the Venice highschool Sailing Team. Emma recently received her level 1 US Sailing Instructor Certification and attend Venice High School as a Sophmore. |
Coach Erinne Fenton |
Coach Hudson Regan Hudson started sailing 2 years ago here at VYBA and fell in love with it. He currently sails on the Venice Highschool Sailing Team, the c420 team and the laser team sailing a radial rig. Hudson recently received his level 1 US Sailing Certification and is now an official coach for Summer camps. |
Coach Otto Afanador |
| Executive Sailing Director Yvonne Watson Yvonne has been on the water her whole life growing up on the Cheasapeake Bay and sailing sunfish as a kid. She has a degree in Marine Biology Technology and Business Administration. Upon graduation she stepped aboard the 120' Schooner Liberty Clipper in Boston, MA as cook and worked her way up the ranks to First Mate. She earned her 100 ton Captains Liscence and took command of the 80' Schooner Liberty in Key West, FL were she ran day sails, charters and sunset sails. Yvonne moved her family to the Venice area in 2013 and has been with the VYBA as a parent for 9 years now having three kids in the program, two of which are coaches. She is currently a level 1 certified sailing instructor and working towards her 100 ton Captains Liscence renewal. |
Assistant Coaches James McCauley Gabriella Pina Emilio Mendoza |
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. Florence Fauls - Chair Renée Fenton - Vice Chair Kali Regan - Secretary Joseph A. Occhino - Treasurer Kristine Taylor - Finance Edmund (Ed) B. Campbell, III - Governance Kim Whiteman - Governance Jay Fahs, Jr. - Operations Dick Lawson - Operations Jill Joos - Operations Sara Gill - Development Stepahnie Mckee - Development Yvonne Watson - Executive Sailing Director |