Atlantic Yachting is a boutique, family-run sailing company and Manhattan’s oldest sailing school. Since its inception in 2006, Atlantic Yachting has grown to become Manhattan’s premier sailing provider, offering everything from Private Sailboat Charters, to Group and Private Sailing Lessons for adults, and New York City’s first Summer Sailing Programs for kids.
We believe it is our hospitality and our true desire to provide an outstanding, authentic sailing experience to every client that has earned us glowing reviews, numerous return customers, and exceptional press.
Performance Sailing Instructor
Amber learned to sail as an adult on her college sailing team in Bellingham, Washington and quickly fell in love with racing small dinghies.
After securing her US Sailing certification to teach, she began instructing at her local nonprofit boating center where she learned how cool and fast J24s are! Four years, a degree in Environmental Policy, and hundreds of sailing students later, Amber decided to move to New York for a change of scenery, pace, and community.
While racing sailboats hooked her, Amber is deeply passionate about sharing the healing and therapeutic benefits of sailing with anybody interested. Like all of our instructors, Amber is an instrumental part of Atlantic Yachting culture and we’re thrilled have kept her aboard for so many seasons!
Head Instructor
Eric Emerick began sailing at age 12 on a lake in Northern Indiana. When not working on the family farm or playing soccer, he spent most Saturdays each summer competing as the youngest skipper in the local fleet, often teaching friends and family members the basics of sailing in exchange for their assistance as crew. First majoring in Engineering at Purdue University, he drastically changed tack, ultimately graduating with a Theatre Acting degree and a certificate in Entrepreneurship & Innovation. His pursuit of further training in acting technique at the Maggie Flanigan Studio brought him to New York. Nicknamed ‘The Hudson River Cowboy’ often donning his signature cowboy hat and trademark Midwestern charm, he’s been sharing his passion for the art and science of sailing with Atlantic Yachting since 2018.
Instructor
Christopher has always found himself near some body of water – literally. Growing up in central Boston, his dad introduced him to the sport, taking him sailing on weekends on the infamous Charles River. After he gained some experience, he began sailing solo.
In high school, he joined the race team and served as captain both Junior and Senior year. Since then he’s escaped to the water whenever time permits, most recently as part of the sailing team at Worcester Polytechnic Institute where he is a rising Junior, and also the Sailing Team’s treasurer. He’s pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Fire Protection Engineering. In his studies, he often finds himself curious about the scientific principles of sailboats, and the theoretical properties utilized in innovative vessel designs.
In addition to this packed schedule, Christopher also finds the time to work as a part-time tour guide. His college experience is definitely much more intense than the average student, but as someone who enjoys being busy, he says so far it’s been working out really well.
Instructor
Growing up, Andrew spent his summers sailing dinghies, catamarans and day sailors on the St. Lawrence River in Ontario, Canada. At Amherst College, he joined the sailing club, gaining his first exposure to racing.
After college, Andrew survived a long career in finance, having spent 10 years in New York, 12 years in Tokyo, and finally 8 years in London. But alas, not enough time sailing!
Since retiring and returning stateside, Andrew has been making up for lost time on the water, enjoying day sailing and racing in New York Harbor. He is looking forward to teaching (and learning!) in the fun and safe environment at Atlantic Yachting. Andrew holds an ASA Keelboat Sailing Instructor Certificate. In addition, he holds the title of “Head of BS,“ aka babysitting his 3 young grandkids, whom he is actively recruiting for his crew.
Charter Mate/Instructor
Stef grew up in a multi-generational sailing family and was trimming lines by the age of 10 on the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Maryland. She’s happiest when she’s near the water and jumps at any chance to be around boats. From racing on the Broadneck High School varsity sailing team, helping run Storm Trysail’s Block Island Race Week, to welcoming guests at the Jeanneau sailboat shows—Stef loves every part of the sailing world, especially meeting and racing with fellow sailors.
When she’s not out on the water, you might find her snapping photos at a concert, teaching a painting class in Midtown, or helping organize a local fundraising gala. Stef is thrilled to be joining the crew this season and can’t wait to help make it one to remember!
Office Manager
Paloma is thrilled to be on the Atlantic Yachting team on the administrative side. An East Coaster almost all her life, she’s always loved being by the water and on the water (provided she’s taken her Dramamine!) When she isn’t handling calls and emails you can find her in Central Park with her family- playing soccer with her son, helping her daughter across the monkey bars, and generally enjoying the chaos of raising kids in the city. She’s looking forward to introducing them to sailing once they’re old enough…provided everyone has taken their Dramamine.
Owner
Jonathan learned to sail in a small lake at a summer program when he was twelve years old. He fell in love with the sport, and ten years later he was running the program. The same thing happened here in NYC.
He started with Atlantic Yachting in 2009, and since then he has done basically everything: he’s led our Summer Youth Sailing Program, he’s presided over more than 100 marriage proposals as mate and captain on our private sailboat charters, and he’s taught countless group and private lessons, helping to get scores of new sailors out on the water.
Before joining Atlantic Yachting, he spent ten years teaching sailing in Rhode Island, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and his home state of Florida.
Youth Programs Director
Henry joined Atlantic Yachting in 2019 as a camper and worked his way up to Counselor-in-Training (CIT) and then Youth Instructor. Henry has developed a strong passion for sailing and is eager to educate the next group of Atlantic Yachting campers.
Henry is a native New Yorker and recently graduated from the Collegiate School on the Upper West Side. At Collegiate, he was the Science Olympiad team captain and a mentor and student leader of the Lower School Science Olympiad. Henry is also a dedicated volunteer at the US Coast Guard Cutter Lilac Preservation Project—right across from our marina on Pier 25! Henry is an American Sailing Association (ASA) certified Small Keelboat Instructor. He’s also a graduate of Atlantic Yachting’s ASA Basic Keelboat (ASA 101) and Coastal Cruising (ASA 103) courses. As if that weren’t enough, he also holds a US Sailing Level 1 Instructor certification.
Instructor
Ben grew up sailing 420s in high school on Lake Michigan in Chicago, IL. It quickly became his favorite extracurricular, eventually becoming captain of his high school team and competing at two high school national events.
Ben joined the Husky Sailing Team at the University of Washington his freshman year, competing in college sailing events all along the Pacific coast. He transferred to Boston University sophomore year and joined the BU sailing team, competing in events all over New England, including the 2024 College Sailing Nationals.
He has taught youth and adult keelboat programs for three years in three states, as well as having coached local JV High School teams in Chicago.
He is a rising junior, studying mechanical engineering at Boston University, and has dabbled in political science and economics in the past. Outside of school, Ben enjoys biking in Central Park, meeting new people, learning new skills, and exploring new places.
Assistant Youth Instructor
Kai has been with Atlantic Yachting since 2019, when he went from camper to Counselor-in-Training (CIT) and then Assistant Youth Instructor. He learned how to sail on the Hudson and, although the has been expanding his sailing horizons beyond the waters of New York, whenever he is out on the Hudson, it feels like home.
Kai is a native New Yorker and will be entering his senior year at Hunter High School on the Upper East Side. At Hunter, he is a straight A student and runs Track and Field 3 seasons per year. This year, he founded a sailing club for his school, which quickly formed a racing division that competes with other NYC High Schools. The team went undefeated in their first two league scrimmages!
Kai is an ASA certified Small Keelboat Instructor. He is also certified in ASA 101 Basic Keelboat (with Atlantic Yachting!) as well as ASA 103..
Charter Captain/Senior Instructor
Dave has been sailing on the Hudson River, around New York City, for over 30 years and loves sharing his knowledge, experience, passion, and enjoyment of sailing and New York City/ Hudson River history with sailing students and charterers alike. Dave is also a New York City licensed Sightseeing Guide.
Dave has also logged extensive sailing hours on the Chesapeake Bay and in the British Virgin Islands. Dave has American Sailing Association certifications up to Coastal Navigation (ASA 105), plus Basic, Coastal, and Bareboat Sailing Instructor certificates, and is licensed by the United States Coast Guard.
Dave is a graduate of Lehigh University. When not sailing, Dave is an avid photographer and a member of the New York City rock-n-roll cover band, “OTTO,” where he’s the drummer, and would drive the band boat, if they had one.
Youth Instructor
Perry grew up on her family’s water ski boat in the Lake Tahoe area before she caught the sailing bug. After a flotilla trip in Greece with friends in 2022, she knew sailing was her next passion and immediately began learning to sail in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Since then she has combined her loves of travel and sailing to sail in some spectacular places around the world.
In the winter season she coaches alpine ski racing in the western half of the country. She is excited to combine teaching kids with all of her sailing experience.
Instructor
Zoë has been with Atlantic Yachting since 2013, where she went from camper, to Counselor-in-Training (CIT), to Counselor over her 10 years here.
After graduating high school at the Convent of Sacred Heart, Zoë began her undergraduate experience at Colorado College as part of the class of 2025. Although still undecided regarding her academic pursuits, she is excited to find out while playing for Colorado’s basketball and lacrosse teams.
Assistant Youth Instructor
Siena has been sailing with Atlantic Yachting for 8 years. Over that time she has gained hundreds of hours of knowledge about sailing and navigation. Recently Siena gained her ASA 101 certification and she can’t wait to continue working on additional advanced certifications. Siena loves teaching and learning the personalities of the campers, her favorite parts about camp is giving out the awards and seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces, and helping them practice new skills on and off the boats.
Charter Mate
Casey joined Atlantic Yachting in 2024 and is so excited to bring her hospitality experience out on the water! She has lived in New York for 10 years and has worked in the service industry since 2017.
Raised in Birmingham, Alabama, she spent most of her summers on (or more often, in) the water and still loves spending time with friends and family in the Florida Panhandle, on the Chesapeake Bay or on the coast of North Carolina. She has a BFA in Drama from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and when she’s not on a charter she loves traveling, reading fantasy novels, visiting vineyards and playing nerdy games with her friends.
Instructor
Sophie grew up learning to sail with Atlantic Yachting, and she has been an avid seagoer ever since. From racing C420s with the University of Chicago sailing team on Lake Michigan to crewing 45-foot catamarans in the Virgin Islands and New England, Sophie has experienced a wide range of sailing adventures, but her favorite remains teaching on Atlantic Yachting’s J24s.
A graduate of the University of Chicago with a Bachelor’s in Neuroscience, Sophie is now excited to channel her scientific background into a legal career. Her experiences teaching young people to sail have inspired her to pursue juvenile justice, focusing on integrating neuroscience research and developmental psychology into juvenile courtrooms.
When she’s not on the water, Sophie enjoys learning new languages, baking delicious treats [Editor’s note: we can attest to this—they are indeed delicious.] and developing her photographv skills.
Our J/24’s are outstanding educational sailboats. The J/24 has become the world’s most popular keelboat and is renowned for its excellent handling and fine feel for the wind and water.
The J/24 was designed to fulfill the diverse needs of recreational sailors such as cruising, one-design racing, daysailing and handicap racing. It is the perfect boat for youth sailors because it provides the feel and handling of a small boat, with the stability and safety of a larger, non-capsizing boat.
The newest addition to our sail training fleet, the J/80 is a sleek, modern racer and day sailor with clean lines and a lot of power. You’ll love the spacious cockpit, large sail area and effortless boat speed, even in light wind.
Even in heavier wind, the boat retains impressive stability and handles its power with ease. But with great power comes great responsibility, so we recommend the J/80 for our intermediate-to-advanced students.
Vitamin Sea is a Beneteau Oceanis—a modern sailboat with all the amenities. Relax and stretch out in the spacious cockpit, complete with above-deck table stocked with your favorites treats by our attentive crew, or make your way up to the bow for breathtaking views of the NYC skyline and the Statue of Liberty—all while streaming your own custom playlist to our Bluetooth sound system.
Too much sun or a little bit of rain? No problem! Vitamin Sea’s canvas Bimini shade will keep you cool and dry, but there’s plenty of space to catch some rays too. While you’re relaxing topside, the Beneteau Oceanis’ fast, stable design is working hard below the waterline to get you to all the best spots quickly and safely.
Our entire fleet is optimized to keep things safe and fun for both and novice and advanced sailors. With full wraparound lifelines (cable railings around a boat) and a heavy lead keel, the risk of ending up in the water is very, very slim. All our vessels have reefing mainsails and multiple foresail options.
What does this mean? It means that we are able to “de-power” the sails depending on wind speeds, making for a safe, comfortable experience.
