Erin Pierce- Program Director

Erin has been at Pleon for 6 years and counting. She coached the Adventure sailing program for 4 years and then moved into the Director position two years ago. Erin grew up in Freeport, Maine, where she spent summers sailing on Casco Bay. After high school, she spent a year working as a deckhand aboard the schooners Harvey Gamage and Spirit of Massachusetts for the Ocean Classroom Foundation, which offers a semester-at-sea program for high school and college students. After attending George Washington University for a year and a half, she transferred to the University of Vermont where she just recently finished. She was on the UVM sailing team for 3 years where she competed on the women's team. 

Parker Dwyer - Fall 420 Coach

Parker started sailing at the age of 5 in Bellport, NY. At the age of 11 he moved to Florida where he started to race more competitively and train year round with Coach David Ames. As an Opti sailor he raced in 3 team trials placing 44th, 8th and 1st. He represented the USA in the European, North American and World Championships. Parker eventually shifted his full attention to 420 racing placing 1st at the Orange Bowl Regatta. Throughout his 420 career he consistently placed within the top 15 at major 420 events. While at Martin County High School his team qualified for 3 team race national championships and 1 fleet racing national championship. After high school he went to Boston College where he was a 4 year varsity athlete. The co-ed team won 2 Team Racing national championships, including 1 his senior year when he was captain of the team. Following graduation he moved to Miami to coach full time at Coral Reef Yacht Club which has a focus on national level racing. Lucky for us, Parker has recently re-located to Boston.

Liz Powers - Fall Opti Coach

Liz has coached competitive teams for the past eight years. In 2010, she was the first woman in U.S. sailing history to win the Robert H. Hobbs Outstanding Sportsman of the Year Award, the top sportsmanship award in college sailing. She raced on the Harvard Varsity Sailing team for four years and served as co-captain during her junior and senior years. Sailing honors also include the 2010 National Sportsmanship Honor Roll for U.S. Sailing and being named a Second-Team All New England Women's Skipper.