Capt. Joan Lappin

Capt Joan Lappin started out canoeing down the Allegheny River as a teenager on 4 and 5 day trips through the Oil City rapids. She has been sailing since 1970 and has owned boats ranging in size from 12' daysailers to Joie de Vivre, a 36 foot racer/cruiser. She has captained 50' boats in the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, Anguilla and St. Barts. Her blue water experience includes sailing in the Grenadines and from Martinique to Guadeloupe. She has spent a week cruising and exploring along the south coast of Turkey. In 2007 she was part of a NYYC expedition to Greenland on a Russian Icebreaker during which the ship crossed the 80th parallel, the line demarking the Arctic Circle. In 2008, she spent two weeks on a rafting trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. She loves being on the water and is an adventurer who enjoys new experiences. Joan has attended J World Sailing School, USCG Auxiliary courses in safe boating, navigation and weather, and the Hayden Planetarium in navigation and piloting. She has cruised in the Joie de Vivre from New York's City Island to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket as well as to Maine. She is the Chair of the Seamanship Committee of The Corinthians, an east coast virtual sailing club, and she is also a member of the Seamanship Committee of the New York Yacht Club. She serves on these committees because she thinks continuing education for sailors is vital to their safety on the water. No matter how long you have been sailing, there is always more to learn. She is a charter member (#3) of the Manhattan Sailing Club since its inception in New York Harbor in 1987 and a member of the cruising committee of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club in Newport RI. She is also a member of Eastern LI Yacht Racing Assn. She is a member of the USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 5-10 in NYC.. Joan is a certified ASA instructor in Basic Keelboat, Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Chartering. She holds a 100 ton USCG Master Mariners license for inland and coastal waters with a sailing endorsement.

Capt. Bert Cohen

Capt. Bert has been a water rat all his life and has been into boating and water activities for as long as he can remember. Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y, Bert's introduction to sailing came as a teenager on beach catamarans off the Jersey Shore. He has since cruised on boats of all sizes, both locally and in blue water situations, including trips from the East Coast to Bermuda and the Bahamas. He is a seasoned delivery captain who can help you to sail your own boat with more skill and confidence. He also holds ASA student certifications in Marine Weather and Radar Operation. So whether you are new to sailing and just want to learn the basics, or are ready to step it up to the next level, Capt. Bert will be delighted to share his love of sailing with you! Bert is also a member of Flotilla 5-10. Bert holds ASA Instructor Certifications in Basic Keelboat, Basic Coastal Cruising, Bareboat Chartering, and Docking, He has a USCG 100 Ton Master Mariners License for Near Coastal Waters with Sailing and Towing Endorsements He is a NY State and NJ State Certified Boating Safety Instructor. Bert is also proficient to help you master your power boat with: single screw, double screw, inboard/outboard and larger outboard engines. 

Capt. Rich Turrin

Capt. Rich Turrin has been teaching sailing at the Manhattan Sailing School for more than 15 years. He holds degrees in civil engineering and operations research. He is not only our math wizard but he also speaks 6 languages. He is fluent in English, Italian, French and Spanish and is conversational in German. If one of those is your primary language, then Rich is our instructor for you. He has extensive blue water experience on boat deliveries in Europe and he spent 8 weeks on a schooner rigged sail training ship from New York to Halifax and then to the Azores. Rich is an avid diver. He has been a very effective Flotilla Commander of USCG Auxiliary District 5 Flotilla 5-10 in New York City. He, too, believes that when you go to sea, the more you know the better off you are and he has passed on that ethic to the entire flotilla with extensive educational programs. Rich is a Certified ASA Instructor for Basic Keelboat, Coastal Cruising, Bareboat Chartering, and Cruising Catamaran. He holds a 50 ton USCG Masters License for inland waters with sail and towing endorsements.