Boston Yacht Club Sailing Pgm Staff

Chris Burd - Head Instructor

My name is Chris Burd and am excited to be returning to the BYC as Head Instructor. I grew up in Marblehead, and first set foot on a sailboat at the Pleon Yacht Club when I was 8, and have never turned back. I sailed at Pleon for 10 years, and sailed for Marblehead High School as well. I'm currently wrapping up my junior year at Tulane University, down in New Orleans, where I spent a year studying architecture before settling into the business school.

I am President of the Tulane Sailing Team, as well as of the South Eastern Intercollegiate Sailing Association, and between Tulane and my other sailing exploits sail pretty much year round. I can't wait to head back to the BYC and spend another summer on Marblehead Harbor.

Lindsay Smith - Level 1 Instructor

My name is Lindsay Smith , I’m returning to the BYC for my third summer as a sailing instructor. I grew up sailing and racing at Pleon Yacht Club in optis and 420s. I was a co-captain of the Marblehead High School sailing team my senior year with fellow instructor, Chris Burd. I went on to sail in the collegiate women's division for Roger Williams University for two years. I’m currently attending Smith College and will be entering my Junior year there next fall. I am majoring in Economics, actively participating in the Smith College Republicans, but unfortunately not sailing on the fields of Northampton, Massachusetts. I am looking forward to another fantastic summer on the water!

Annie Boldys - Level 1 Instructor

My name is Annie Boldys and this is my first summer teaching sailing at the Boston Yacht Club. I have been sailing at Pleon Yacht Club since I was eight years old and I have loved every second of it. I sailed Opti's, JY 15's and 420's in my 9 years at Pleon and was a Junior Instructor for two summers. I sailed on the 420 Race Team for three summers and attended numerous regattas in the Mass Bay area. I am currently a senior at Marblehead High School and I am so excited to graduate and start having some fun! I can't wait to meet new faces so I hope to see everyone in June!

Ryan Carney - Level 1 Instructor

My name is Ryan Carney and I am from Winthrop, Massachusetts. I am 20 years old and a current sophomore at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. I grew up sailing N-10’s at the Cottage Park Yacht Club in Winthrop and began sailing Inter-clubs and Rhodes 19’s on the weekends during the winter with the Winthrop Frostbite Club.

I started sailing Lasers at the Pleon Yacht Club, I have competed in regattas along the East Coast from Maine to Miami. For the past three summers I have been crewing on a J-105 in the Thursday night series in Beverly. For the past two summers I was the commodore of the Pleon Yacht Club. I am really looking forward to teaching at the Boston Yacht Club, and I’m excited about spending another summer in Marblehead Harbor.

Maggie McMullen - Junior Instructor

My name is Maggie McMullen. This will be my second summer working as a Junior Instructor at the Boston Yacht Club. I am a senior at Marblehead High School and will be attending Colgate University next year where I plan on joining the sailing team. I have also been a Junior Instructor at Pleon and have raced Optis and Club 420’s all over New England. I am excited about being part of the BYC program again. Looking forward to seeing you on the water this summer!

Hillary Smith - Instructor in Training

My name is Hillary Smith, I grew up in Marblehead and have spent all my summers out on the water. I learned to sail at the PLEON Yacht club and have since enjoyed all the wonderful activities that living on the water has to offer. I will be a junior at St. Mary’s high school next year and plan on continuing on to study child development in college. This will be my third year helping the BYC’s junior sailing program, and I’m looking forward to great summer on the water with the kids.