Erik has been the Junior Sailing Program Director at SDYC since September of 2021 after having spent three years coaching at SDYC in the Sea Urchins, Adventure Sailing, Sabot racing, and CFJ racing programs. He is responsible for overseeing all Junior Sailing Department operations, managing the coaching staff, running program registration, and is available to answer any of your questions. You can find him in the Waterfront Office on the second floor of the Malin Burnham Sailing Center.
Erik grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, California and had his first sailing experience in Oceanside, California with family members who enjoyed cruising on their Catalina 36. When he was 14 years old he had his first formal sailing instruction through the Boy Scouts at Camp Cherry Valley on Catalina Island. He credits his instructors for igniting his passion and curiosity for sailing. He then returned to Catalina as a sailing instructor for several summers, eventually running the sailing and waterfront operations at the camp for two summers as a young college student. He started working at SDYC in 2019 while studying at San Diego State University where he began competing on the university’s sailing team and served as the team President for two years, later graduating with a degree in Political Science with minors in Sustainability and Public Law.
He is an active racer in the San Diego Snipe fleet and is excited for any opportunity to go racing, continue learning about sailing, and enjoying time on the water.
Coach Jon’s first boat racing was in the gutters of Silver Strand Housing in Coronado, with shaped popsicle sticks. He never got certified at the Fiddlers Cove Navy YC but had unlimited access to Lido’s and Rebels from about, age 10. He bought his first Sabot with money made mowing lawns He drove his Dad crazy, reaching back and forth (for hours) in Glorietta Bay. His first two Sabot races were at SDYC and he got stuck in irons in both the first two races of his life and did not finish. He cried. His life was changed when he started racing Laser II’s at SDYC with Charlie Jenkins in 1980. Many SDYC families including the Lake’s and Peter’s and many friends like the Leadbetter’s and Ryan’s were instrumental in supporting and inspiring his passion. He went on to become a 2-time San Diego Yachtsman of the Year (’95 and ’03), has received the Alonzo de Jessop and John R. Rumsey Service Awards, has won the Lipton Cup twice (’98, ’01) and has won World and National titles in the J-24 (’97 &’98), Snipe (’03) and J-22 Class (’94). Jon lived in a Van for some winters in Miami while campaigning 470’s and has vast experience in a variety of sailing classes including Etchells, Thistles, and Lasers with additional time spent in keelboats including J-105’s, Farr 40’s, One Design 35’s and various PHRF boats. He became a JWorld Sailing School Instructor in 1989 and worked at the San Diego, Newport, Rhode Island and Key West, Florida locations. He was the Jr Program Director and then the Head Coach at Coronado Yacht Club for 24 years and has also coached for US Sailing, North U and CISA.
He has 3 daughters and his wife Jenny is an Elementary School Principal.
Dustin is the SDYC Junior Sailing Program’s Boatwright and Fleet Manager. He has been refitting boats and servicing engines for 4 years and sailing for 5. Dustin started working for the Yacht Club in 2018 as a bartender for the catering department while also working the day shifts in the boatyards of Shelter Island.
He grew up on the East Coast in Northern Virginia and spent a large part of his life hanging out on the inter-coastal waterway and barrier islands of North Carolina. He has a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and worked with the North Carolina Coastal Federation before moving to California.
Dustin has always loved all bodies of water, especially the ocean. He worked at a resort that had a sailing program for its guests and he started going out on their J/22s after his shifts. He fell in love and now lives here in San Diego on a Catalina 34 with his girlfriend and their kitten.
This is Audrey’s first summer at SDYC. She is working as our Assistant Junior Sailing Director, where she splits her time between coaching, supporting the coaching staff, and working behind the scenes to ensure that the Junior Program runs smoothly. She has several years of coaching experience, working at Camp Seafarer in North Carolina, coaching at Carolina Yacht Club, and spending several years at Southwestern Yacht Club. Audrey is an avid offshore racer and will be competing in the Trans Pac race this summer!
Coach Emma’s love for sailing happened accidentally after her parents signed her up for a summer camp when she was 13 years old. Coconut Grove Sailing Club in Miami, FL became her second home where she sailed Laser 4.7s for two years as the only girl on her team. After moving to Lauderdale Yacht Club and continuing to race competitively, she joined Saint Thomas Aquinas' High School FJ and 420 team. Throughout the years, she has sailed Lasers, 420s, FJs, J/22s and Snipes. She has been coaching for 7 years and she loves getting kids into the sport!
Coach Doug Hart has been spent decades competing and coaching at the highest levels of sailing. He is coaching the SDAYC ILCA Racing Co-Op program this summer, which includes all the top laser sailors in the San Diego area. Doug has won several national titles in Snipes and Lasers and has competed in world championships and Olympic trials.
Steve is the all-time winningest High School Sailing coach in the United States with 11 national championships at Point Loma High School. As a professional sailor, he has won 15 national and North American championships and three world champion titles.
Coach Steve will be coaching our Sears Cup Qualifier Training program in J/22s this July. He will continue coaching the PLHS Sailing Team in the fall and generously supports SDYC sailors looking to level up their competition by including them in PLHS practices.
Aidan will be returning to SDYC for his seventh summer, coaching C420 racing, Sabot A-Fleet, and leading our Team Racing Program. Aidan grew up sailing sabots, C420’s, and racing in high school out of SDYC, and currently competes with the Roger Williams University sailing team where he has excelled at several national championship events.
This is Calvin's 5th Summer Coaching. He has grown up in the SDYC Junior Program racing Sabots, Lasers, Fjs, 420s, iQfoil and 29er's. Calvin currently attends Webb University in New York, where he is studying naval architecture and competes on their sailing team. Calvin is super excited to be coaching another summer and sharing his passion with the next generation of sailors!
Buzz is one of the newest additions to the Team SDYC coaching staff. He is originally from Orlando, Florida and grew up sailing throughout the east coast. Buzz started sailing for leisure during the summer as a kid, and it eventually developed into one of his biggest passions. Sailing led him to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where he spent three years on their varsity sailing team. He has several years of coaching experience and will be working with Novice Double Handed, Sabot Racing, and C420 racing this summer.
Alena Callahan is a new coach here at San Diego Yacht Club but has experience from coaching at Southwestern Yacht Club last summer. Alena participated in SDYC’s Summer Camp program while growing up in San Diego. She sailed at Francis Parker High School and is now sailing on The University of San Diego’s club team where she is a Pre-Law student majoring in Finance. She is excited for a fun summer of sailing, sharks and minnows, and smiles! Alena will be coaching in our Beginning Sabot and Pre-C3: Learning-to-Race programs this summer.
This is Peter Joslin’s first summer coaching at San Diego Yacht Club. He grew up in the SDYC Junior Program sailing Sabots, 29ers, C420s and sailed CFJs at Francis Parker High School. He now sails at Boston College. When Peter is not coaching at SDYC, he is usually sailing, surfing, playing golf, or playing basketball.
Emma Parker will be joining us for her first summer at SDYC. She is originally from Ireland, where she grew up racing Opti’s and 420s. She has several years of coaching experience from Ireland, Antigua, New York, and look forward to working with our Intermediate and Racing Sabot programs this summer!
Coach Peter grew up sailing at SDYC, racing Sabots until high school and was the Captain of the Point Loma High School Sailing Team. He also sailed C420s, competing at many major regattas through SDYC Junior Sailing, becoming one of the top teams in the nation during his senior year. Peter just finished his freshman year at Boston College, where he is studying finance and competes on the sailing team. Outside of sailing, Peter enjoys surfing, golfing, and fishing.
Colin Sekerka is coaching our Beginning Sabots and Adventure Sailing classes this summer. He began sailing in Dana Point Harbor seven years ago. He has been coaching for the past five years on Sabots, RS Teras, CFJs, C420s, RS Visions, RS Quests, Lasers, and keelboats. He has loved sailing throughout his career and is excited to share the same passion his coaches have shown him to both classes this summer!
Gabe is new to SDYC and will be joining us for the first time this summer! Gabe grew up sailing lasers, 29ers, and 420s at San Francisco Yacht Club where he also coached for several years. Gabe was active in collegiate sailing during his time at UC San Diego. He will be working with the Intermediate Sabot Sailing course in the mornings and the Sabot Race Team in the afternoon.
Alice Schmid grew up in the SDYC Junior Program, racing in Sabots, C420’s, Lasers, CFJ’s, keelboats, and 29ers. Last summer, Alice represented the United States at the Youth World Championship in the 29er. During the last year she served as the SDYC Junior Commodore, Team Captain for the PLHS Sailing Team, and received the Paul J. Hartly Memorial Award as the SDAYC Junior Yachtswoman of the year. Alice will be attending Stanford University in the Fall where she will compete on their champion sailing team. Alice will be working with the Sea Urchins class in the morning, then Sabot racing and 29er development training in the afternoons (when she is not training on her 49erFX).
Marcus grew up sailing in San Diego in Sabots, Lasers, and competing with the PLHS sailing team. This is his first summer working at SDYC, coaching in the ILCA racing program. Marcus was one of the top ILCA junior racers in the nation, winning the US Youth Champs, and competing at a national level. He is currently attending Tulane University and will also coach with the Junior Program at Southwestern Yacht Club later this summer.
Brian is 21 years old and grew up sailing Sabots, CFJs, and C420s. He is currently an active racer in the Snipe fleet at MBYC and coaches high school sailing. This will be his 6th year coaching and first year at SDYC. He is excited to join the team, working with our Novice Double Handed and Adventure Sailing programs. Brian is an avid surfer and technology enthusiast.
Madi will be joining us for her second summer at SDYC, working in the Sea Urchins class and some afternoon sabots. She grew up sailing at Coronado and San Diego Yacht Clubs, racing in sabots, CFJs, C420s, and 29ers. Madi currently attends Point Loma High School and competes on the sailing team. She is passionate and dedicated to the sport, spending much of her free time sailing and training.
Lance Morton will be joining us for his second summer of coaching Sea Urchins at SDYC. He grew up sailing in the Junior Program, starting off his racing career in sabots and currently competing in Lasers. Lance enjoys water polo, video games, and sailing in his time off work.
Kaya Hancock will be joining the SDYC coaching staff for her first summer, working with the Sea Urchins and Adventure Sailing programs. She just began sailing with SDYC in September of 2022 and has quickly progressed to a high level of competition in the 29er, CFJ, and C420 fleets. Kaya is passionate about watersports, water safety, and is motivated to share these skills with others. Her interests outside of sailing include archery, scouting, and backpacking.
Evan Tofolo will be returning for his third summer at SDYC, working with the Pre-C3: Learn-to-Race program. He is a current student at Saint Augustine High School, where he started a sailing team from scratch! He spent several years in the sabot race fleet at SDYC and is active in the ILCA and keelboat racing.
Oscar has been sailing for the last ten years and currently attends Point Loma High School. He grew up in San Diego through the SDYC Junior Program and is excited to teach the next generation of sailors. He spent several years in the Sabot racing fleets and is now focusing on ILCA racing and high school sailing. In addition to coaching this summer, Oscar will be traveling around the nation to compete in the ILCA6.
Cam will be joining SDYC for his first summer of coaching with the Sea Urchins program. He grew up in the Junior Program at SDYC, racing in Sabots, Lasers, High School Sailing, and C420’s. He has collected many championship titles through his experience in the C420 and will be attending Brown University in the fall where he will continue his sailing career.
Harrison Strom will be joining us for his second summer of coaching Sea Urchins at SDYC. He grew up sailing in the Junior Program, starting off his illustrious racing career in sabots and currently competing in Lasers, High School Sailing, and C420’s.
Zach Peterson is joining us for his first summer of coaching Sea Urchins at SDYC. He has grown up sailing and actively competes in the C420, Sabot, 29er, and High School Sailing fleets. Zach is passionate about the sport and looks forward to inspiring the next generation of sailors at SDYC.