A lifetime of summers in Niantic Bay fostered a love of the sea in Pamela Woodruff. Her childhood explorations of beaches and shoals led her to major in marine science at the University of South Carolina. She decided that she preferred to share her knowledge over spending time in a lab and pursued the field of education. She is certified to teach Math and Science in the State of CT in grades 7-12 and holds a Masters Degree in Education for Curriculum and Instruction from the University of St. Joseph. She currently works as a math teacher in the alternative education program at Manchester High School where she has been teaching for over 15 years.

Pamela learned to sail at Niantic Bay Yacht Club on a Blue Jay in middle school. After a more than 10-year hiatus, she returned to sailing in an Ensign doing Wednesday Night racing. Having been bitten by the bug she pursued sailboat racing further competing in weekend racing, ECSA series, Regional and National Championships. During this time, she met and married her husband Gary and they soon had a son, Donovan. She continues to sail both competitively and recreationally on the Ensign as well at the Laser, Blue Jay, the family Nonsuch and almost anyone that will take her. She participated as a skipper in the inaugural year of the She Sails program as well at the adaptive sailing day last summer.

Pam looks forward to bringing her knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to the NBSA program.

Kristen will be a college Senior at Fordham University in the fall, majoring in the Biological Sciences and minoring in Psychology, and current captain of the sailing team. As a Niantic native, Kristen grew up in the NBSA sailing program where she competed nationally in the Optimist and club 420 class. During her days at NBSA she was a volunteer instructor before becoming a full-time instructor in 2019 at Fenwick and is returning for her fourth year at NBSA. Kristen is a US Sailing level one certified instructor, with the experience that NBSA treasures of teaching children the love of the sport of sailing whether it is racing, beginner sailing, or as recreation.

Sara Beth is an avid sailor and scientist. When she is not out on the water, she is collecting specimens offshore or reading about the wonders of the Long Island Sound. As a Waterford resident, she started sailing when she was eight years old. In high school, she joined the sailing team and conducted salt-marsh research. She presented her findings at the CT State Science Fair and GENIUS Olympiad. She currently studies and races at Wesleyan University, although she has taken a semester off sailing to study abroad in Madrid. This is her third-year teaching at NBSA. She took an active role in the design of the STEM curriculum last summer. Her goal is to make young sailors aware of the immersive presence (and fun!) of STEM in the sailing environment.

Jack Redmond is a rising sophomore in the Carroll School of Management at Boston College and on the varsity sailing team there. He has been sailing since he was seven years old at NBYC and began competitive sailing at the age of ten with the Lauderdale Yacht Club. He has sailed at many international sailing regattas including Optimist Worlds in Antigua. He won many team race events including two national championships and the Berlin Cup in Germany. He was the captain on the high school sailing team where he competed at national events in both team race and fleet race. Jack currently sails both the 420 and the Laser. He came in third at High School Laser Nationals as a senior.

Jack is returning to NBSA after coaching with the program last summer. Jack is excited to spend the summer once again, doing what he loves, sailing and coaching kids!

Megan Yorsz is a rising senior at Colby College, double majoring in economics and government from Winchester, Massachusetts. She began sailing at Winchester Boat Club before transitioning to Pleon Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA, as part of the C420 race team competing in National events. In her hometown, she was captain of Winchester High School’s sailing team sailing out of the Mystic Lakes. In the Summers of 2020 and 2021, she was the C420 race coach at Winchester Boat Club, specializing in racing tactics and techniques. Last summer, she was the C420 green race coach at Beverly Yacht Club in Marion, MA, where she enjoyed coaching heavy wind racing tactics, specializing in spinnaker and trapeze technique. Last summer, she continued weekly racing in J80s and Shields in Marion, MA. She is excited to join the NBSA sailing program this summer and share her knowledge and passion for sailing.

Lily Margiotta is entering her senior year of high school. She is a life long member of the Niantic Bay Yacht Club and began sailing here as a child. Lily has raced in many Opti and 420 regatta’s thru the last 6 years. In 2022, she and her crew were awarded the ECSA 420 Overall and Girl’s Season Championship. Lily volunteered many hours as a Junior Instructor and is thrilled to share her sailing knowledge and encourage the next group of future sailors. Lily’s other interests include high school varsity basketball and softball.

Graham graduated from East Lyme High School and will be a Freshman at Virginia Tech in the fall, majoring in mechanical engineering. Graham started his sailing career at Shennecossett Yacht club learning to sail Optis. He moved on to New England Science and Sailing when he began racing in Opti green fleet. After a move from Washington, D.C., brought him back to East Lyme, he shifted to Niantic Bay Yacht Club where he started sailing 420’s and FEVA’s. Over the past 4 years at NBYC he has transitioned from a student to a Junior Instructor and is now a full time Instructor. Graham is a US Sailing level one certified instructor with lots of sailing experience, He loves teaching kids how to sail, race and most importantly how to have fun while learning the sport of racing.

Sarah will be a sophomore at Springfield College majoring in Physical Education and Health, where she plays on the D3 field hockey team. She grew up sailing at NBYC in Opti’s during which she was a volunteer junior instructor. Sarah is a Level One certified instructor and is looking forward to her second year at NBSA.