Junior Sailing

Jesse Buccolo Head Sailing Instructor

I grew up sailing at Norwalk Yacht Club where I sailed Optimists, 420s, and Lasers. I previously have instructed at Beach Point Yacht Club for the last 3 years where I taught beginner through advanced Optis along with the big-boat program.  I am currently a sophomore at American University, in Washington D.C., studying political science. I look forward to being the head instructor for this year’s sailing program. It’s going to be a fun summer!

Sean Spinney

My name is Sean Spinney. I’m from Rowayton and graduated Brien McMahon High School. I have just finished my first year at the University of San Diego. I am majoring in International Relations. I am a Marine Option Midshipman in the San Diego NROTC Program and am on the path of becoming an officer in the Marine Corps. My hobbies include sailing (of course), surfing, playing guitar and playing golf. This will be my second year teaching at Roton Point.

Sarah Smith

I am currently a Senior at Darien High School.  This will be my third summer as a sailing instructor at Roton Point.  I also worked as a junior instructor at Tokeneke in 2007 and 2008.  I was enrolled in the Tokeneke Junior Sailing Program from 2002 to 2006 and in the Darien Junior Sailing Program from 2007 to 2008.  I competed in junior sailing regattas on Long Island Sound from 2003 to 2008.  I competed at Pixel Champs in 2006, placing 4th.  I qualified for and competed in 420 Junior Sailing Championships in 2007 and 2008 as a skipper.  I also placed 3rd at Pequot in 2006, 5th at the Girls Optimist Regatta in 2006, and 3rd at the Noroton Optimist Team Race in 2006. I am a member of the cross country team and varsity sailing teams at Darien High School.  I am involved with Person to Person and the Darien Youth Commission.  I am looking forward to another great summer!

Dylan Curran

Hello my name is Dylan Curran and I am excited to be joining the Roton Point instructor team this summer. I grew up in Wilton and I am currently a junior at Eastern Connecticut State University where I am studying economics. I am a life long sailor and have been spending time on the water since before I can remember. I participated in the junior sailing program at the Norwalk Yacht Club from when I was 7 until I was 16. At Norwalk I raced Optimists, Lasers, and 420s. I spent the summer of 2007 instructing at the Noroton Yacht Club in Darien where I taught intermediate and advanced racing Optimist classes. I also have experience crewing on big boats and enjoy spending time on my family’s Beneteau first 345. I look forward to meeting and getting to know everyone in the coming months and over the summer!

Tally Thoren

I am currently a Junior at Indiana University in Bloomington.  I live in Darien, on Holly Pond which has given me a childhood filled with sailing, fishing, and wakeboarding out on the sound.  At Indiana I am a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and am interested in studying business, history, and political science. I learned to sail at the Tokeneke Club where I was a junior instructor for 2 years. This is my fifth year instructing at Roton Point.

Michelle Fink

I am a Senior at Wilton High School, and have been sailing since I was 6. I spent six summers enrolled in the Shore and Country Club sailing program, sailing  Optis, Pixels, Blue Jays and Lasers. I was a Junior Instructor for the final two years, where I was awarded the Instructors Cup, Most Dedicated and Most Improved sailor. I spent last summer teaching beginning and advanced Optimist sailors at Wee Burn Country Club, and am looking forward to imparting my love of sailing and knowledge of the sport to the young sailors at Roton Point.