I started my sailing journey with this club in 2014. I was immediately addicted despite capsizing about 7 times on my second time out! Being out on the water and enjoying our beautiful harbour in a dinghy is exhilarating and fun. I love racing and this has been the best way to hone my sailing skills. Equally, I enjoy setting a course, cruising, and exploring and chatting with my fellow crew members. I now do Keeler boat sailing and have done some offshore racing as well, sailing from Australia to China. As a coach, I really enjoy watching people grow in confidence and competence. It’s a real pleasure to see both children and adults learning through getting out and doing having a go.

When she’s not coaching, Maria works as an educator in the tertiary sector and a language test developer.