Sail Camp Instructors
Jaclyn Braun - Jaclyn, the new ASC Junior Chair, will be serving as sail camp coordinator. As a US Sailing level 2 sailing instructor, Jaclyn has a passion for teaching and coaching. She enjoys sailing a variety of boats, and is an active racer. Her energy and passion will be a great asset to this year's camp.
Kim Bagnoni - Now serving as ASC Past Commodore and current SAYRA Jr Chair, Kim will be assisting in all aspects of camp. She is a US Sailing level 3 instructor and very involved with the ASC Junior Program. Thanks to an amazing team of volunteers, ASC is seeing a vibrant and resurgent junior program with many new and returning participants. The junior program focuses on promoting Junior sailing, while organizing social activities throughout the year.
Daniel Fodera- Past Commodore, Daniel Fodera will be joining us again this summer as a level 3 sailing instructor. Daniel is retired from the Navy and works for the Federal Highway Administration. He is an avid E-Scow sailor, skippering E-Scow and keelboats, as well as serving as crew for others. Daniel has 3 grandchildren that he is molding into O’pen Skiff sailors. We are thrilled to have him part of this year’s summer camp.
Josh Putnam- We are so thrilled professional sailor, Josh Putnam will be the head sailing instructor for all our beginner to intermediate Open Skiff and 420 camps, as well as for our advanced race team camps. Josh has extensive experience in coaching sailing at the college level and in international regattas. He grew up sailing at ASC and now travels the world competing on J70s and J24s. In 2008, Josh earned a spot on the US Sailing Team. The club is fortunate to have his talent and experience to develop the next generation of local sailors.
Daniel West - With over 30 years of sailing experience, Past Commodore Dan West has skippered and raced throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas, Chesapeake Bay, Lake Michigan, and the inland lakes of Iowa and Georgia. He has served as Race Official for numerous ASC regattas, as well as Charleston Race Week Off Shore Racing. As a level 2 US Sailing Instructor, Dan is a wonderful addition to camp.
Tim Sparks - Tim is a US Sailing level 2 and Power Boat Safety instructor, as well as a licensed USCG captain. He was an intercollegiate dinghy sailor at the U.S. Naval Academy and has competed in the Capri 22 Nationals and Sunfish North Americans. We are very excited to have him working with our juniors.
Maddie Miller - Maddie has been sailing primarily E-Scows for the past 7 years. A recent graduate of University of Georgia, majoring in Elementary Education, Maddie plans to return to Augusta to teach elementary school full time. We are very excited that she'll be joining us this summer as a level 1 US Sailing Instructor.
Alex Bagnoni- Like so many of our Juniors, Alex learned to sail at ASC's Summer Camp several years ago. He quickly progressed and joined the Open Bic racing team, traveling the southeast. In 2018 he competed in the Open Bic North Americans in San Diego, CA. Now actively sailing the Laser circuit, Alex also races E-Scows and 420s. This past year he was a captain of his high school sailing team and the 2022 Laser D12 Series Champion. Alex will be joining us again this summer as a level 1 Instructor. We expect lots of great things from this sailor and look forward to having him part of the camp team.
Kate Zurinskas- Kate, a level 1 US Sailing Instructor, has been sailing her entire life. She is a member at Lake Lanier Sailing Club and Carolina Yacht Club NC. After 7 years sailing Optis, she sailed the Club 420 circuit for two years and competed at Girls Double Handed Nationals twice. Kate now sails Lasers in the Southeast. She has sailed a variety of boats, from dinghies to larger boats like foiling catamarans and Melges 24s. She has been a role model for younger athletes at her club and has coached beginner sports. We are thrilled she'll be joining us again this year.
Kaitlyn Bagnoni - Kaitlyn is a US Sailing level 2 instructor attending Georgia Tech for Aerospace Engineering. Kaitlyn, has been an essential leader for the ASC Junior Race Team, traveling throughout the southeast competing in the O'pen Skiff, 420, and Laser Radial. She has had numerous podium finishes, including the 2018 SAYRA Junior Grand Prix Champion for 13+ in the O'pen Skiff. We are looking forward to her visiting and helping with camp this summer, as she is a wonderful role model for younger sailors.
Michael Sickinger - Michael grew up at ASC sailing a variety of small boats. He was very active in the junior program, competing in Open Skiffs and Lasers. Currently, a level 1 US Sailing instructor, Michael now attends Clemson. We look forward to working with him again this summer.
Nick Saballa - Nick is a US Sailing Level 1 Instructor. He has been very active in the junior program the last couple years, sailing primarily Sunfish and 420s. We are extremely proud of Nick and his recent acceptance to West Point Military Academy.
Zeal Saballa - Zeal is also a Level 1 US Sailing Instructor.