(he/him), Executive Director

Michael McAllister has been the executive director at SailMaine since 2016. He grew up in Biddeford, Maine and as a child was fortunate enough to receive a need-based scholarship to a learn to sail program. Those early experiences encouraged him to compete at the highest level in college, where he was an All-New England skipper at the University of Rhode Island. He continued his passion for sailing as a college coach at Columbia University in New York City. From there, he transitioned to practicing law. As an attorney, Michael worked tirelessly to advocate for at-risk youth in Maine as a junior defense attorney. His practice focused on ensuring kids had the resources and voice they needed to succeed. Prior to coming on as the Executive Director, Michael served on the Board of Directors at SailMaine and coached several high school teams at SailMaine.

When Michael isn’t hanging out with his wife Annya and their puppy Arthur, he is hanging with his daughter, racing slow keelboats like Rhodes 18+19, J24’s and etchells, and foiling his windsurfer in the back cove!

(he/him), Operations Manager

Ben has extensive non-profit leadership experience from his time as a board member and director at the Small Point Summer School and as an Upper School Administrator at Waynflete School. He has a passion for the outdoors and outdoor learning. Ben sometimes joins the Wednesday night J22 race series at SailMaine and on occasion sails Rhodes 19’s. He has also spent time working on a schooner and running the Race Committee Boat for Small Point Yacht Club.

Ben is looking forward to helping SailMaine take the next steps on systems and community engagement. He is very excited to be down on the waterfront and to meet all the folks in the SailMaine community. In his free time, Ben is typically chasing around his two little kids, Hank and Linus, with his wife Frances.

(he/him) Junior Program Director, High School Coach

A graduate of Eckerd, Andrew comes from an impressive dinghy sailing background. He has both raced and managed racing programs, and we are excited to add him to our ever growing community! Andrew loves good coffee, woodworking, and has a sweet new SailMaine office dog named Sadie.

(he/him), Facilities and Maintenance Manager, High School Coach

Sam grew up sailing in Kennebunkport, then moved on to race competitively for the Cheverus High School Team and Bates College. Sam has coached the Portland High School team and maintained our ever-growing fleet of power and sail boats since 2015. He spent the last few summers coaching the 420 race team in Blue Hill, and we are so excited for him to join our staff in a full-time capacity. Sam will also be taking over coaching SailMaine’s summer racing program in addition to his other maintenance duties.

(she/her) Development Manager

Erin has been working on and around Casco Bay for over a decade. She co-founded sea kayak outfitter Portland Paddle, worked as an independent non-profit consultant, and spent 5 years as Membership Director for the Maine Island Trail Association. When she isn’t on the water guiding kayak trips, visiting islands, or learning how to race big boats, she enjoys running after her two boys, thinking about the weather, or possibly pursuing a land-based activity like hiking or eating ice cream. Erin is a Registered Maine Guide, a Wilderness First Responder, and an ACA-certified coastal kayak instructor.

PRESIDENT

Chris has always sought creative ways for the public to access Casco Bay. Community sailing became a natural fit. Chris has served in many non-profit roles, including former president of Rippleffect and the USM foundation, and is a current PMA board member. Over the years Chris has enjoyed watching his kids grow up in SailMaine programs and leaving the nest to attend college at the University of Vermont, Wheaton and Boston University. When Chris isn’t volunteering with non-profits, he enjoys road-tripping with his wife Maggie in his Volkswagen Bus.

As a lifelong sailor myself, it’s been gratifying to have my children grow up as sailors and racers. My oldest, Libby, was a skipper on the Southern Maine team in the early days (2002) of SailMaine, followed by her brother, Alan, and ten years later by brother Ben who was a founding member of the Yarmouth Sailing Team. I recently served as Parent Coordinator for Yarmouth for several years, and loved getting to know the high school sailors and coaches. I’m so proud of the work that SailMaine does, in giving access to the water to children and adults, hopefully building a lifelong passion. Jim and I continue to cruise and race our J40 in Maine waters, based at Portland Yacht Club, where I am a Past Commodore, and first female Commodore 2001-2002 in its 125 year history.

Mark Morrissette is a partner at North Atlantic Capital, a venture capital firm based in Portland, investing in high-growth technology companies. Mark is a graduate of Dartmouth College, and Harvard Business School. A father of three, Mark was indoctrinated into sailing, and SailMaine, by his children who all became passionate racers in high school. By providing access to the water to hundreds of kids every year, Mark has seen first-hand how SailMaine can have a major impact on Maine youth.

Matt is a multi award winning art director and designer with extensive experience in branding and creating engaging design for clients such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, The New York Public Library, The New York Times, HBO and the NFL. He moved from NYC to Portland, Maine so he can spend more time in a boat with his family and less time on the subway. He loves sailing, and wants everyone to experience the sense of wonder and possibility that it brings.Description goes here

A retail executive at L.L.Bean, Emily Carville is a lifelong sailor who believes strongly in the empowerment, leadership, and sense of adventure sailing engenders in kids and adults alike. As a junior sailing instructor during college, Emily began her passion for sailing education, which is what brought her to SailMaine as a Special Olympics sailing coach in 2005. Emily has served on the marketing committee for over 10 years and joined the board in 2012. Emily is a graduate of Princeton University, where she sailed on the women’s team for four years. Currently a resident of Freeport, she now takes her two young children sailing on a wooden dinghy her husband built for the kids when she is not out racing J/24s with the Sea Bags Women’s Sailing Team.

I love Sail Maine because I believe in the life lessons sailing teaches are invaluable to a person’s development. Though I don’t live close enough to participate, I love the community Sail Maine is building and the welcoming spirit. I’m very proud to be a small part of it.