Meet The Staff - Ipswich Junior Sailing

Meet The Staff

Ipswich Junior Sailing is committed to developing sailing instruction and leadership skills in its staff members and prides itself in an exceptional teaching staff. Members of the IJS staff represent the core values of our program and facilitate a safe and fun learning environment. Ipswich Junior Sailing instructors are U.S. Sailing Small Boat Level I or Level II Certified. Most of our staff members grew up learning to sail with IJS in the Ipswich Bay, and many of them boast noteworthy accomplishments in the local racing scene.

Jack Pearlson

Program Director

Jack lives in North Andover and graduated from Phillips Academy in 2023. He attends Colgate University, where he is a member of the sailing team.

Jack learned to sail Optis and 420s at IJS and was a member of the IJS race team for many years. In 2021, he took over as the principal race coach. In that role he has built the race team which has trained many successful racers.

He himself is an avid racer, competing in college and Laser regattas. He employs his leadership and tactical racing experience garnered from both the IJS program and other high performance boats like 49ers, Nacras, and Waszps.  Jack loves teaching and coaching at IJS, and he looks forward to leading and managing an exciting 2024 summer program for IJS sailors and racers and to the continued growth and develop of the IJS program.

Colin Henkes

Program Manager

Colin learned to sail at IJS growing up, and began working for the program during the 2023 season. Colin manages the daily activities of the program on-shore, ensuring a well-organized, safe, and fun environment for sailors and staff alike. In 2024, he will serve as the Program Manager at IJS. He is currently a student at Colby College and lives in Georgetown, Massachusetts.

Charlie Jaferian

Head Instructor

Charlie Jaferian the head Instructor and photographer at Ipswich Junior Sailing. He graduated from Pingree High School in 2023 and will be studying business and photography at Endicott College in 2024. He is currently going into his 5th year in the program. His favorite part of being an instructor at IJS is the authentic connections he forms with all of the kids that go through the program. He also has a passion for photography, including capturing kids’ love of sailing.

Charlie Carner

Senior Instructor

Charlie is a Senior Instructor at IJS. He has been sailing at IJS since he was 8 years old, and has been teaching for three years. Charlie enjoys working at IJS because of the incredible staff and because he gets to teach at the same place he first learned to sail.

Sebastian Wells

Senior Instructor

Sebby is a Senior Instructor at IJS. He has been sailing with IJS for 7 years and his favorite thing to do as an instructor is be out on the water teaching kids how to sail and overcome their fears.

Charlie Quimby

Senior Instructor

Charlie Quimby is a Senior Instructor. He has been been sailing for ten years at IJS. Charlie is enthusiastic about the sport and loves chatting with students to help them feel comfortable on the water.

Will Coughlin

Junior Instructor

Will has been sailing his whole life on many different boats: Mirror Dinghy, Opti, 420, Laser, and crewing on larger vessels. This is his fifth year sailing with IJS, and he loves having the opportunity to share his excitement about the sport.

Isabelle Getchell

Junior Instructor

Isabelle is a Junior Instructor at IJS and has been sailing with the program since she was 7 years old. She has been racing for three years and is currently racing at St. George’s School, in Newport, Rhode Island. Her favorite thing about IJS is the passion the instructors share for the sport and how they incorporate this into teaching new sailors during the summer.

Theo Goodrich

Junior Instructor

Theo lives in Ipswich and has been sailing at IJS for 7 years. He loves spending his summers on Plum Island Sound and sharing his knowledge of the local environment with others.

Reed Soininen

Apprentice

Reed Soininen is an apprentice at IJS. He has sailed at IJS for 9 years. His favorite thing about being an apprentice is sharing his knowledge and love for sailing with others.

Paolo Calderaro

Apprentice

Paolo Calderaro is an Apprentice at IJS. He has been sailing with IJS for 2 years but has sailed for 6 years total. Paolo loves to make learning to sail fun and engaging for sailors.

Benjamin L

Apprentice

Benji is an apprentice at IJS. Growing up on the water, he has always had an interest in everything to do with boats. As well as wooden boatbuilding, he enjoys racing and recreational sailing and is excited to continue to share his passion with others.

Ryan C.

Apprentice

Ryan is an apprentice at IJS. Ryan grew up sailing with IJS and is now a member of the race team. He is an excellent sailor and has found success sharing his knowledge and skills with others.

Will D.

Apprentice

Will is an apprentice at IJS. Will has been sailing been sailing with IJS for 5 years and sails with Pleon in the shoulder seasons. He has experience sailing Opti, 420s, Lasers, and Colgate 26s. Will enjoys teaching at IJS because he can share his love for sailing with sailors new to the sport.