About our staff

All of our head sailing instructors are US Sailing Level 1, CPR, and First Aid certified. They come highly recommended with a great track record of experience for hands-on instruction.

Program Director : Gretchen Sullivan

Gretchen is new to the MDI area, having grown up on Southport Island, where she learned to sail in the Sheepscot River through the Southport Yacht Club program.  This is where her love for the water and sailing was born and each summer was spent at SYC as both a student and coach.  Gretchen went on to sail at Hobart and William Smith College and during summers was the Head Instructor at Ram Island Yacht Club in Noank, CT.  Returning to Maine, Gretchen worked at SailMaine, where she helped Cheverus High school in Portland develop a sailing team to compete at a national level. 

Gretchen and her husband Brent enjoy living on MDI year round and have a 7 year old son, Kinsey, who also shares a passion for sailing and boating.  She looks forward to developing and cultivating a lifelong love of the sport with all of the Fleet members at NEHSS.