Current Weather

• East Greenwich , US

• Mostly Cloudy (day) 55 ° F

• Feels like: 55 ° F
• Humidity: %
• Wind: 12 mph (From: 330 )
• Barometer: 29.46 in (Rising: 0 )
• Sunrise: 5:24 am
• Sunset: 8:01 pm
• Source: Yahoo! Weather
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Calendar

• Event: Opti Parent Meeting - 05/19/2008
• Event: GBSA Monthly Board Meeting - 05/22/2008
• Event: GBSA Parent Orientation Night - 06/13/2008
• Regatta: NBYA Opti Regatta - 07/21/2008
• Regatta: NBYA Jr Women\'s Regatta - 07/28/2008

Message from the Director of GBSA

GBSA Friends and Family,

I would personally like to welcome you to the upcoming summer of 2008 at the Greenwich Bay Sailing Association.  As the new Program Director, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the GBSA staff and students to continue with the legacy of this great program.

Since coming on board, I have worked very hard with past Director Dave McMillan as well as the entire GBSA Board, to ensure a safe, successful and fun summer for all of our sailors.  It is my goal to hire the best possible staff and create an environment where all our students flourish not only on but off the water. It didn’t take me long to realize that GBSA is a special place and this year’s staff will challenge themselves to enhance that experience for all who are involved with the program.

That being said, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and give a brief history of my sailing and coaching.

I grew up in Dartmouth Massachusetts and learned how to sail in town at the New Bedford Yacht Club.  Through my years as I junior sailor, I raced in such classes as Optis, 420s, MX Rays and 29ers.  While in high school I was able to start the Dartmouth High Sailing Team, which helped catapult me into college sailing.  Over the summers of High School and College I would return to New Bedford, teaching and coaching in their junior program for many years.  In college, I sailed 4 years for the University of Rhode Island, where I graduated in 2004 with a degree in Ocean Engineering.  Following college, I entered the marine industry working with a composites company by the name of Forte RTS.  Working at Forte didn’t prevent me from staying involved with coaching, and I was able to work with such programs as Providence College, Bishop Stang High School and University of Rhode Island.  During the winter of 2006, I decided to make coaching sailing my full time occupation and signed on with URI, where I have been since. 

Being a college sailing coach allows me to have summers off and the opportunity to work with the youth of our sport.  I am very excited about what we can offer here at GBSA, and I strongly believe that the potential of this organization is greater than any other program I have ever worked with in the past.  I am enthusiastic about the start of summer, as well as meeting all our sailors and their parents.

I hope you have a great spring and I’ll see you this summer!

Sincerely,

 

Joey Mello

Program Director