The WaterFront Center: Meet the WFC Summer Instructors Part I

The WFC’s summer staff arrived Monday morning ready to take on a summer of sailing and sunshine! I sat down with each of them for their personalized profile on the WFC Blog, and got to know the 13 leaders that will be helping things run smoothly for the next several weeks. There’s a lot to learn, so we are featuring two instructors per post, and then will feature the Naturalist instructors. Here we go...

Up first was Alex Hering, 20, a native of Huntington, NY who is in his third year as a sailing instructor at the WFC. “My dad threw me in a boat when I was four and started teaching me how to race,” said Alex, a junior at Mitchell College in New London, CT who is studying marketing. Despite his spontaneous start in sailing, Alex began racing 420’s at Centerport Yacht Club, and moved on to racing competitively in LISOT (Long Island Sailing Optimist Team). Alex came to the Waterfront Center because, he says, “I heard it was an amazing program.” He says that he enjoys passing on his own love of sailing to others, and believes wholeheartedly in what the WFC stands for environmentally, as well as its ability to create friendships. When not sailing, Alex can be found out on the water surfing or windsurfing, or back inside playing Xbox Live. He also says: “I like long walks on the beach, and pondering my future” (he’s our resident funny guy). Alex says he lives by the quote “sail fast, live slow”, and hopes that this summer he can help his young sailors enjoy sailing as much as he does.

Other Fun Facts

Favorite Sports Team: the Hartford Whalers

Pets: 1 dog named Kirby

Pepsi or Coke?: Sprite

What do you enjoy about sailing?

“The excitement and the thrill of going fast.”

Favorite ice cream: Chocolate chip

Desired superhero power: “The power to control wind” (like any good sailor!)

Next up is Heather Grosso, who is about to begin her first summer as an instructor at the Waterfront Center. Originally from Garden City South, NY, Heather will be attending SUNY Old Westbury in the fall, where she plans on studying graphic design and playing soccer. Heather says she first began sailing when her grandparents put her into a program: “I lived with my grandparents during the summer, and they threw me into a sailing camp when I was 6, and I did it every summer after that.” She says that she sailed in regattas during the summer but was never overly competitive, and enjoys sailing because, “It’s a lot of self control, and very fun.” Heather is most looking forward to meeting new people, and having the opportunity to share her love of sailing with her youngest sailors. She is sure to have a great summer, as she is always smiling and has contagious happiness! She said that she chose the WFC because, “It seemed like a really nice community”, and she felt like she would get along well with everyone.