We recently caught up with a band of sailing brothers who have had the opportunity to sail around the world competitively. These up-and-comers are active here at home with high school sailing and also with Lakewood Yacht Club.
Dane Byerly – age 15
GCM: What got you started in sailing?
Dane: I read about winning a scholarship to go to Sailing Camp at Lakewood Yacht Club through Bay Access. My dad is a sailor and I really wanted to learn how to sail.
GCM: Who was instrumental in helping you learn how to sail?
Dane: My first coach, Mattia d’Errico, taught me how to sail. He introduced me to Scott Lindley, another coach, who taught me how to race.
GCM: Why and what do you like about sailing?
Dane: I really like the competition in sailing and also getting to hang out with my friends. I have met kids around the country and around the world.
GCM: How do you apply what you learn in sailing to everyday life?
Dane: Sailing has taught me how to be more organized and how to plan ahead.
GCM: How many years have you been sailing?
Dane: Seven years.
GCM: What are your future goals?
Dane: If there was a chance, my dream would be to represent the United States on the Olympic Sailing Team. Of course, sailing in the America’s Cup would be awesome too. I would love to attend and sail for the U.S. Naval Academy or Boston College.
Dougie Byerly – age 14
GCM: What got you started in sailing?
Dougie: My brother Dane started sailing at Lakewood and I wanted to learn too.
GCM: Who was instrumental in helping you learn how to sail?
Dougie: Coach Mattia – he was my first coach.
GCM: Why and what do you like about sailing?
Dougie: I like having fun on the water with my friends.
GCM: How do you apply what you learn in sailing to everyday life?
Dougie: I have dyslexia and sailing helps me learn to focus. I am also able to use what I have learned about weather in my everyday life.
GCM: How many years have you been sailing?
Dougie: Six years.
GCM: What are your future goals?
Dougie: I would like to continue sailing, especially high school sailing. I don’t know what I want to study but would like to attend Texas A&M. I hope to use what I have learned in sailing in big boats when I am older.
Dutch Byerly – age 12
GCM: What got you started in sailing?
Dutch: My older brothers, especially Dane. I was also having fun hanging around the sailing kids.
GCM: Who was instrumental in helping you learn how to sail?
Dutch: Coach Mattia, then my brother, Dane. Then Coach Scott taught me a ton about racing. He taught me how to team race and I got to qualify with our team who were able to attend the Volvo Open Ocean Race Academy in Miami. We represented Team Abu Dhabi and got to see the boats and met some of the team members. They trained us in the special team boats. It was really fun.
GCM: Why and what do you like about sailing?
Dutch: I like being competitive and it helps me stay in shape. I like being active.
GCM: How do you apply what you learn to everyday life?
Dutch: It helps me when I have to think quickly and notice my surroundings because of what I have to do on the water with wind and race course conditions.
GCM: How many years have you been sailing?
Dutch: About four years but I have been in the boats with my dad and brothers since I was tiny.
GCM: What are your future goals?
Dutch: I want to sail in the Olympics for the U.S. I also want to be on the U.S. National Team for Optimist Sailors like my brother, Dane. I want to team race a lot and compete in bigger boats, especially in high school sailing and travel to sail. I am going on my first international trip to Argentina in February to sail in a regatta.
