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 almost 20 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 for NBYC’s Wednesday Night Racing in a Pearson Ensign. It was here she learned the most important post sail question: “did you have fun?”. Having been bitten by the sailing bug, she pursued racing further by 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 has continued to sail both competitively and recreationally on the Ensign as well as the Laser, Blue Jay, the family Nonsuch and almost any boat that will take her. She has participated as a skipper every year of the She Sails program, hoping to share her love of sailing with other women. She has also acted as crew or skipper for the adaptive sailing days hosted by NBSA and The Miracle League.

In her fourth season as Program Director for NBSA, Pam looks forward to bringing her knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to another season. She is happy to talk with the families who entrust their young sailors to our program. Here’s to fair weather, sailing fast and having fun.

Sarah is a graduating senior at Springfield College, earning her degree in Physical Education and Health Education. In her senior season she was captain of the Springfield College Field Hockey team and brings strong leadership and energy to everything she does. Sarah grew up sailing at NBYC in Optimists and began her coaching journey there as a junior instructor. She is a US Sailing Level 1 certified instructor and is excited to return for her fifth summer at NBSA, serving as Co-Head Instructor.

Brendan Peary is a rising senior in the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. He first learned to sail at NBYC when he was nine years old. Brendan decided to pursue competitive sailing after joining the sailing team at Xavier High School, where he served as captain during his senior year. He also gained experience on the Club 420 circuit and at other high-level Club 420 events while sailing with MudRatz. Brendan has been a consistent crew member on Atlantics for five seasons and competed in the 2022 and 2025 Nationals. Brendan has also competed at Ensign Class Nationals. Currently, Brendan sails on the Boston College Sailing Team. For the past two years, Brendan has served as the ECSA Junior Sailing Committee Chairman, overseeing interclub racing and junior sailing events within ECSA. Brendan is excited to be back for his third summer of coaching in the bay!

Luciana is a Graphic Design student at Universidad Siglo 21 in Córdoba, Argentina. She grew up sailing Optimists and ILCA, competing at an international level before transitioning into coaching. Over the past several years, she has coached both Optimist and ILCA sailors in Argentina and New Zealand, gaining experience working with a wide range of skill levels and competitive sailors. Luciana has developed a strong passion for teaching and helping young sailors build confidence on the water while improving their racing skills. This will be her third summer at Niantic Bay Sailing Academy, where she is excited to return as a coach and continue sharing her enthusiasm for sailing.

Lily Flack (23) is a graduate student at Southern Connecticut State University, where she is pursuing a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. She began her sailing journey at the age of five in Opti’s remained actively engaged in competitive dinghy sailing through college. Flack raced C420s with Wadawanuck Yacht Club, NESS, and MudRatz, spending multiple summers traveling for the C420 Triple Crown circuit. Her passion for the sport led her to continue sailing at the collegiate level.

Flack competed as a women’s skipper for St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies with a minor in Biology as a member of the Class of 2024. She was also a two-time member of the ICSA All-Academic Team and a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma honor society at St. Mary’s.

In addition to her sailing experience, Flack currently serves as the Head Sailing Coach at The Williams School, where she enjoys working with her student-athletes each spring. She continues to sail larger boats with her friends, most notably The Sound Sisters, who recently competed in an all-women’s international J/70 event at the Yacht Club de Monaco. She also remains actively involved with MudRatz, coaching and mentoring the next generation of sailors.

Now entering her ninth year of coaching, Flack is excited to return to Niantic Bay Sailing Academy after several years coaching elsewhere, including Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, MD. She will be leading the C420 race class on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Her knowledge, skills, and coaching experience make her a valuable addition to the NBSA staff this summer. Welcome back, Lily!

I’m a rising junior at East Lyme High School with a strong passion for sailing. I began my sailing journey at Niantic Bay Yacht Club and spent two seasons at Ram Island Yacht Club, gaining valuable experience along the way. Over the years, I’ve sailed a wide variety of boats including Optis, 420s, Lightnings, Ensigns, and more. I've competed in numerous regattas that have sharpened my sailing skills and deepened my love for the sport. Notable events include the Lightning Junior North Americans, the Ensign Nationals, and the Opti New England Championship. These experiences have taught me important lessons in leadership, teamwork, and resilience. I also spent three seasons volunteering as a junior instructor at NBYC where I supported sailing programs and helped younger sailors build their skills on the water. That role helped me grow as a mentor and reinforced my commitment to giving back to the sailing community. This season, I’m excited to step into the role of sailing instructor and share my knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm. I look forward to helping young sailors grow in confidence and develop the same love for the sport that has shaped my own journey.

I am a rising junior at The Williams School in New London, Connecticut, and also take additional coursework at Connecticut College. I began my sailing journey in Optis at the Thames Yacht Club. After two seasons, I found a new sailing home at Niantic Bay Yacht Club, where I continued to race Optis before transitioning to 420s.

Over the past two years, I’ve been a dedicated member of The Williams School sailing team each spring, and I’ve also sailed with the MudRatz program in the fall. These experiences have strengthened my sailing skills and taught me the importance of leadership, communication, and teamwork—qualities I’m excited to bring to my role as an instructor.

I'm really looking forward to sharing my love of sailing and helping younger sailors build confidence on the water this summer.

My name is Lanah Argeris, and I’m excited to be an instructor at NBSA this summer! I will be a senior in high school this coming year and have developed a strong love for sailing over the past several years!

I have been sailing for about 8 years, and during that time I have gained experience in racing and regattas. I have sailed in Optimists, 420s, and Ensigns and have developed skills in boat handling and teamwork. Sailing has taught me a lot about responsibility, patience, and decision-making, and I love sharing these skills with others.

Outside of sailing, I enjoy running, singing, playing piano, hanging out with friends, and spending quality time with my family. I love working with kids and helping them build confidence while still having fun. I’m really looking forward to meeting everyone and making sailing lessons a positive and memorable experience!

My name is Juana Crola, and I am from Argentina. I started sailing when I was six years old at Club de Regatas La Plata, and since then it has become one of the biggest parts of my life. I began competing in regional championships and later expanded to national and international competitions, which gave me the opportunity to discover new places, meet incredible people, and grow both personally and professionally.

I am currently pursuing a degree in Business while continuing to stay involved in sailing. I am thrilled to be joining the NBSA team this summer because I see it as an amazing opportunity to share what sailing has taught me and the passion this sport has given me throughout my life. I hope to help young sailors grow not only in their sailing skills, but also through the friendships, confidence, and experiences that come with being part of a team and spending time on the water. I can’t wait to meet everyone this summer!

Cecelia Peary is a rising senior at Mercy High School. She first learned to sail at NBYC when she was ten years old. Over the past seven seasons of junior sailing, Cecelia has spent four as a crew in the Club 420. Outside of the summer sailing season, Cecelia plays varsity ice hockey and lacrosse at Mercy High School. Cecelia is very eager to be on the water this summer as a coach and get to share her love for Niantic Bay.