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RESUME - Gary
Sprague
Gary
Sprague, Chief Instructor, AND owner of
Aquatic
Rental
Center & Sailing
School
. . . learned to sail at age 6! The small lake behind his house made him
realize that sailing to the end of the lake . . . was often rewarded
with an intentional capsize and brief swim. Followed by up-righting the
boat, only to sail to the other end of the lake for another scheduled
capsize/swim.
Gary
began racing sailboats at age 8. By age 15, he’d qualified for and
participated in four (4) world championships representing the
United States
.
Gary
graduated from
Tabor
Academy
in 1976, a Naval honor high school in
Massachusetts
. He led it to a National High School Sailing Championship Title, as
elected Team Captain that year.
Upon graduation from
Tulane
University
in
New Orleans
,
Louisiana
(1980)
Gary
was inducted into the “Intercollegiate Sailing Hall of Fame” as an
“All-American” sailor.
Due to his outstanding achievement in collegiate sailing,
Gary
was portrayed in the Sports Illustrated, February 1979, issue
“Faces in the Crowd” for leading Tulane University Sailing Team to a
Sugar Bowl victory! He repeated, claiming victory again in
December 1979.
Gary
spent three (3) years (‘81- ‘84) qualifying for and competing in the
1984 Olympic Sailing Trials. Ranked 10th Nationally for those
three (3) years in the 470 class, Gary fell short of an Olympic berth to
represent the
U.S.
in the ’84 Olympics.
In 1987,
Gary
realized a dream . . .
Miami
must have an official sailing school; so . . . “Castle Harbor
Sailing School, Inc.” was created, and Gary went to work teaching the
art of basic sailing to all ages . . . private instruction!
The U.S. Olympic Yachting Committee hired
Gary
in 1990, because of his background, and current occupation as a U.S.S.A.
Certified Instructor . . . to help coach the Olympic sailing team. He
repeated in 1991 as assistant Olympic sailing coach!
Summer 1993 –
Gary
incorporated again, another formal sailing school AND rental
business . . . off downtown Miami called “Sailboats of Key Biscayne”
Rentals & Sailing School, Inc.
1997 – 2004 –
Gary
has:
1) Participated in two
(2) world championships!
2)
Developed the first public high school sailing team
program on the water in
Florida
– MAST ACADEMY!
3)
Steered “SKB” and the “Miami Museum of Science” to team
up for the past ten (10) years, with focus on introducing 8-14 yr. olds
to basic sailing skills, water safety, teamwork, etc.
* The tenth summer
kids’ sailing camp (’04) has been special! ALL the kids loved the
new venue . . . and say they’ll be back in ’05, to be a part of “
Aquatic
Rental
Center
” &
Sailing
School
at Pelican Harbor Marina . . . where “Pelican Pete” asks for YOU! 2009: Florida State Championship, J-24 Class, 2nd Place, Skipper.
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