Caroline Hugo Named New Sailing Director

The Marco Island Yacht Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Caroline Hugo as its new Sailing Director, overseeing the Club’s Youth Sailing Program. She succeeds Dwyn von Bereghy, a dedicated Yacht Club volunteer who successfully led the program for the past six years.

Caroline Hugo joins the Marco Island Yacht Club from the Great Harbor Yacht Club in Nantucket, where she coached the youth race team for the past four years. A lifelong sailor, she was born and raised in Annapolis, Maryland - a historic seafaring town - where she developed a passion for sailing at an early age. She first took the tiller in an Opti at the Annapolis Yacht Club at just four years old and as a youth went on to win numerous awards in sailing regattas, including “Top Girl” at the Junior Olympics in 2010, 2011, and 2016. In high school, she instructed children and coached youth racing teams at the Annapolis club. Later, while earning her bachelor’s degree at the College of Charleston, she became involved in big boat racing.

With her extensive experience in both competitive and instructional sailing, Hugo brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to her new role.

The Marco Island Yacht Club’s Youth Sailing Program fosters a love for the sport while teaching essential sailing techniques and safety skills. It offers both beginner and intermediate sailing classes, divided by age group and boat size. This year, Hugo is also introducing a new “Sea Squirt” program for children aged four to seven, designed to help them become comfortable on the water and familiarize them with an Opti sailboat. Programs for teenagers will utilize 420 sailboats.

Registration for the program is now open. Interested participants can sign up on the Yacht Club’s website.