Youth Maritime Programs

Associate Program Manager
Chrissy has worked as an experiential educator on or near our local waters for over 20 years, and has worked at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, the North Olympic Salmon Coalition, the WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife, as a classroom teacher, an Outward Bound instructor, and as a sea kayaking guide. Chrissy is also a regular crew member on the Schooner Martha. She has her Master’s in Teaching, a Washington State K-8 teaching credential, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Education. When she’s not at work, you can find Chrissy eating her favorite snack, guacamole, at her small homestead that she shares with her husband, lots of chickens, two cats, and sometimes goats.

Program Director
Robin began her career in maritime education as an instructor for Outward Bound’s NW Sailing program in 1994. She has worked on sail-training ships in a variety of programs on both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In 2003 Robin received her master’s degree in Education and began teaching in public schools before staying home to raise her three children. Now in the commercial fishing industry with her family since 2014, Robin has been told her daughters can tend a dock line better than some fisherman! If you’d like to treat Robin to lunch, she likes veggie dogs with bacon.

School Program Manager
Nancy brings to the team her passions for sailing and marine science along with an extensive background in experiential learning programs on the east and west coasts. She holds a degree in Environmental and Marine Science Education, is a USCG licensed Captain since 2002, and has served as the Education Director of Sound Experience, as Field Instructor for Olympic Park Institute, and as Captain/Instructor for Outward Bound. NWMC School Program Manager since 2007, when Nancy isn’t out on the water she enjoys singing, playing guitar, birdwatching, and gardening. Nancy’s biggest role model is Terry Tempest Williams, but Flipper the dolphin is a close second.

School Program Coordinator
Sonia comes to us with a wealth of experience in sailing aboard Outward Bound longboats, Schooner Adventuress, Schooner Martha, Yawl Pacifica, and on her own sailboat, Freya. She was a sailing instructor for Four Winds/Westward Ho on Orcas Island, and has been our School Program Coordinator since 2014. Licensed with her 100-ton Inland and 50-ton Near Coastal captain’s licenses, we think she’s pretty cool. When she’s not sailing, Sonia enjoys bowling, playing her slide trombone, and eating cookies.

Instructor, Learn to Sail
Erik Brown started sailing on Optis in Connecticut when he was 6 years old and has never looked back. He has a USCG Captain’s license as well as a US Sailing Instructor Certification. Erik has experience in all types of sailing craft from dinghies to schooners, and his most recent passion is sailing his hydro foiling windsurfer. He has worked as a sailing instructor on and off for the past 13 years and looks forward to spending another summer on the water.

Instructor, Learn to Sail
Alyce Flanagan grew up on her family’s 82-ft schooner on which she sailed all over the globe. She has been teaching sailing in some form or another since she learned to talk. She has a USCG Captain’s license, has worked on a variety of tall ships and sail trailing vessels, and is currently the coach for the Port Townsend High School Sailing Team. In addition to that, she has extensive dinghy racing experience and has competed in both high school and collegiate racing. Since graduating she has kept her feet wet racing 505’s with her father. She is excited to share her passion for sailing this summer.