Our Staff
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Emma Heller Head Instructor |
This summer I am excited to take on a new adventure as Head Instructor. I have been teaching sailing for three summers now at Nepean Sailing Club, where I started as a student in their Sailing School 12 years ago. Nepean Sailing Club has helped me develop my passion and skill for sailing. Since learning to sail I have sailed and raced on many boats including Fevas, 420s, 29ers, and keelboats at the local, provincial, and national level. When I am not spending my days sailing, I am studying Biomedical Science at the University of Ottawa. I am beyond excited to back on the water this summer and share my passion for sailing! |
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Sam Dell LTS Administrator |
This is my first year as the sailing school administrator. I’ve been sailing all my life, with a love of sailing being passed down in my family. I started sailing school at the Nepean Sailing Club when I was seven, worked as an Instructor in Training for a season, and was part of the NSC race team for three years where I raced a Laser. I now sail a keelboat as well as a variety of dinghies. I also work as a Race Bosun organizing and running club races. During the winter, I am a student at Carleton University studying Humanities and Religion. I look forward to a summer of sailing and sharing my passion for the sport! |
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Bradley Sheppard Race Coach |
My name is Bradley Sheppard, I am just finishing up my third year at the University of Ottawa in Civil Engineering. My sailing opportunities started at the local sailing summer camp just like most of you. I quickly discovered racing and loved it from the moment I experienced my first start. Looking back in my racing resume, I experienced so much for someone who lived in Northern Ontario and a non sailing community. In 2012, I committed to the Ontario Sailing Laser Team where I learned from and trained with the best sailors in Canada for 3 years. I had ambitions about joining the National Team, but university quickly made me realize that I must plan for the future. This is where I truly found a passion for teaching and coaching the next generation of great Canadian sailors. Over the last 5 years I’ve had the opportunity to coach sailing in my hometown of Sudbury, Ontario. I had the opportunity to work with some great individuals but now I’m looking to impact and grow racers at Nepean. My goals are to provide a safe, challenging and educational environment during training and competition. To promote sportsmanship, lifelong interest in sailing and a pathway for athletes interested in performing at the highest level within Canada. |
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Spencer Klymyshyn
CANSail 3/4 Instructor |
I started in the learn to sail program at the Nepean Sailing Club when I was eight years old. I sailed every summer with the club and joined the Youth Race Team when I was 14, first helming a C420 and then sailing Laser Radial. Throughout my years on the race team I developed my skills by competing at many regattas in Ontario and Quebec including CORK. I’m currently a student at McGill University studying piano performance at the Schulich School of Music. This summer, I’m excited to return as part of the coaching staff at NSC as a CANSail 3/4 instructor. My summers at the club have been the best times of my life and I can’t wait to be back at the school sharing my love of sailing! |
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Luke Boguski CANSail 3/4 Instructor |
This summer will be my first teaching at the Nepean Sailing Club. I have six years of previous teaching experience at the Gimli Yacht Club (Manitoba), teaching various levels from CANSail 1 through 4. I raced Laser in many events including SailWest and Laser Nationals, and also have experience sailing on a number of other single and double-handed dinghies. In Gimli, I would crew on a Tartan Ten in the weekly keel boat races. My pursuit of a degree in Aerospace Engineering has brought me to Ottawa, where I am happy to be apart of the team of instructors at NSC and I look forward to sharing my sailing experience in the CANSail 3/4 class this summer. |
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Ellena Damini CANSail 1/2 Instructor |
My name is Ellie and this will be my second summer instructing CANSail 1/2 at NSC! My passion for sailing was inherited from my grandfather, who raced dinghies and encouraged me to take up the sport. At NSC’s sailing school, I sped through the sail training program and later raced 420s on the Race Team. I now sail 29ers and race J24s in the evenings. In the off-season, I study Commerce at Carleton University, and enjoy playing volleyball, swimming and travelling. I love being on the water and am very excited for this summer! |
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Nic Dolcetti-Koros CANSail 1/2 Instructor |
Hello all! This will be my fifth summer returning as a CANSail 1 Instructor. I am extremely excited to share my expertise with the keen sailors who will be joining us this summer. Since September, I have successfully completed my degree for Culinary Arts at George Brown in Toronto while having worked in the industry throughout the Fall and Winter months. Following this summer, I will be pursuing a degree in Economics at Carleton University. I am very keen to return to the NSC Sailing School Instructor Team, where the atmosphere and quality of coaching are bar none. I can’t wait to see you all on the water! |
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Neel Parti CANSail 1/2 Instructor |
My name is Neel and I am very excited for my first year of teaching at the Nepean sailing club! I am currently in grade 11 at West Carleton Secondary School. I have been sailing at the Nepean club for the last 6 years. During that time I have been on the race team for 2 years as well as being a volunteer instructor and instructor in training working with CANSail 1, 2, 3, 4 and get up to speed. During my time on race team I double handed 420’s both years and competed at fruit bowl 2018 as well as the national capital regatta placing 3rd. I am looking forward for a great summer working with CANSail 1/2 students and cannot wait to see everyone out on the water! |
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Philippe Doucet Adventure Sail Instructor
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I will be teaching for the first time this summer as adventure sail instructor! I’ve been sailing at the Nepean Sailing Club since before I can remember, and have participated in the summer program here for the past 10 or so years. I was on the youth race team for the past four years, where I proudly sailed my bright yellow laser. I’m looking forward to making memories and finding new stories to tell this summer with all the other adventurers at the club! |
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Camden Sutherland Get Up To Speed Instructor
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This summer will mark my fourth year as an instructor at the Nepean Sailing Club, and my tenth year sailing on the Ottawa River. I started at the Sailing School when I was 11 years old and was hooked from the start! Over the past 4 years I have competed at many regattas such as CORK Youth Nationals and Sail Central, both as a member of the NSC Race Team and on my own. Currently I am going into my fourth year of studies for the Aviation program at Mount Allison University, and I am excited to return for the sailing season. Teaching the Get Up To Speed level this summer will be special for me as I was once that kid who started sailing when they were a little older than the others around them. I can’t wait to share my passion and enthusiasm with all those who attend the Sailing School this season! |
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Benjamin Pestana CANSail Instructor |
I learned how to sail through the Canadian Sea Cadet program starting in 2014 and sailing has certainly been the highlight of my summers ever since. I’ve completed at Fruitbowl in Hudson, Four Sisters and Steerers in Port Credit and the Sea Cadet National Regatta and CORK in Kingston. I sail C420s and specialize as a crew. Last year I was an assistant coach for the Cadet’s Advanced Sail program and I look forward to bringing my experiences to a completely new environment. There are few things I enjoy more than passing what I know onto my students and am looking forward to another summer on the water. |
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Jade Dufour Tackers/CANSail 1 Instructor |
This will be my second summer as a sailing instructor and I am so excited! I love sharing my passion and spending as much of my time as possible on the water. I have been sailing for 8 years and was a part of the race team at NSC for 4. I will be the tackers instructor and am excited to meet our new sailors! |
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Elissa McCann Tackers/CANSail 1 Instructor |
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Able Sail |
To learn more about our Able Sail staff, and volunteers, please click here. |
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