Santiago Galán, a native of Argentina, is a 15 year professional sailing coach whose experience spans top sailing programs in South and North America. Tino, as his team members call him, counts soccer as his favorite sport and Lionel Messi as his superhero, but thrives on and around the water, creating his own superhero sailors. He has coached the North American Optimist Champion and the runner up in the South American championships. He has also coached with LISOT and was Head Coach of the Greens Farms Academy sailing team. He is spending the winter in Miami to coach with the exciting pre-Olympic skiff 29er Development Program.
You can read more about Tino's and his teams’ long list of accomplishments here as well as in this Sail1Design article.
We look forward to Tino’s return to CPYC in June to lead our Junior Sailing Program!
Erin McHugh
Head Instructor
Erin is excited to return to Cedar Point Yacht Club for her third year, and second year as Head Instructor. She grew up sailing Optis, FEVAs, C420s and big boats at Black Rock Yacht Club. Erin will be a junior at the University of Denver in the fall, studying business. Her favorite junior sailing memory is skippering the Beach Point Overnight Race. Outside of sailing, she enjoys skiing, traveling, running, and volunteering.
AJ Sorensen
Instructor
At an early age, AJ learned both how to sail and the love of the sport from his mother and aunt. He has sailed many different boats, from the stable dinghy to the “TZ”, which is a 30 foot skiff that can easily capsize. AJ is the Head Coach of the University of Fairfield sailing team, and is excited to return to Cedar Point Yacht Club this summer and continue to share his passion for a sport that has taught him that there is always something new to learn.
Chris Tella
Instructor
Chris can’t wait to get back in his coach boat at CPYC this summer! He has been sailing since he was three years old, and grew up at Old Greenwich Yacht Club sailing Ideal 18s with his Dad and brother. He joined the Indian Harbor junior sailing program in Optis, then moved into C420s and 29ers with his brother as his crew. Together, they competed at the C420 Nationals in 2019, and participated in several U.S. Sailing Olympic Development camps in Miami with the 29er class. Currently, he’s a junior at the University of Rhode Island and on the sailing team, and has his sights on an Olympic campaign in the 49er class. It is his hope to bring all of his sailing knowledge to Cedar Point to promote the skill and passion for the sport to all the youth sailors there!
Tate Theodorsen
Instructor
Tate has ten years of sailing and competitive racing at Milford and Pequot Yacht Clubs. He is looking forward to returning to CPYC for his third summer and building on the successes of his previous summers. Tate has years of experience sailing Optis and Lasers, and sailed C420s for the Fairfield High School sailing team. He attends Roger Williams University and is planning to join the sailing team. Outside of sailing, you can find Tate hanging with friends, spending time with family, and playing basketball.
May Brum
Instructor
May has nine years of sailing experience at Black Rock Yacht Club and is so excited to return as an instructor at Cedar Point Yacht Club! She has sailed Optis, Fevas, and 420s throughout her years at Black Rock. She will be a sophomore at the University of Colorado Boulder in the fall. In her free time, she loves to spend time with friends and family, volunteer at Wakeman Boys and Girls Club, and get Blizzards from Dairy Queen!
Max Laferriere
Instructor
Max grew up sailing at both Pequot Yacht Club and Edgartown Yacht Club, beginning when he was 8 years old. He began sailing competitively at the age of 12, and has found both local and national success. Max has sailed Optis, Lasers, 420s, 29ers, FJ’s, and big boats all around the country and the world. He is super excited to return to CPYC this summer and share his knowledge and make more great memories out on the water. Max is graduating from Greens Farms Academy this spring. He enjoys fishing, playing sports, and hanging out with friends.
Henry Raymond
Instructor
Henry Raymond grew up sailing at Noroton Yacht Club, where he sailed for 8 years. He enjoyed sailing Optis, Fevas, and Lasers. He was first placed into a sailboat at the age of 8 months in a carrying stroller. His fondest sailing memory is taking his family’s 34 foot Sabre all over Long Island and Vineyard Sound. Henry enjoys teaching and mentoring children. Most recently from Washington, DC, Henry took a year off before starting college to gain the required hours to earn his pilot’s license and fly his family to new places. He is an incoming freshman at Colorado State University, hoping to major in history.
Arielle Rieder
Instructor
Arielle has years of experience racing Optis and Lasers and is very excited to start her first year coaching at Cedar Point Yacht Club! She has raced in JSA for the past 3 years at Pequot Yacht Club and frostbites Dyer Dhows in the winter. Her favorite memory is the camaraderie she found at Larchmont Race Week 2022. In the fall she will matriculate at Barnard College and join the Columbia Sailing team. Arielle is a current senior at Hopkins School in New Haven. Beyond sailing, she likes to travel and leads her school's swim and water polo teams as captain.
