Staff

Robert Burke

Executive Director

Robert has spent over 20 years in the field of experiential and adventure education, youth development, and non-profit management.  For the past decade, Robert has been Program Director for NYC Outward Bound.  Robert holds a US Coast Guard Masters License, and has taught sailing predominantly on the west coast on the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Northwest. He has explored much of the east coast on tall ships, deliveries, and  open sail boats. Having kayaked or sailed all of the tidal Hudson, Robert has a strong interest in the natural and human history of the river.

Alex Baum

Program Director
Alex was born in Rochester, NY and grew up sailing on Lake Ontario and Keuka Lake. He has sailed competitively since high school and is now a U.S. Coast Guard licensed Captain. At HRCS, in collaboration with DOE educators, Alex designed and implemented the accredited curriculum. He is responsible for programming and outreach. Alex graduated from Fordham University with a degree in International Political Economy. While at Fordham, he was the captain of the university’s varsity sailing team.

James Cart

First Mate Program Director
James Cart was born in Buffalo, NY and grew up sailing on Lake Erie. He started racing with his father when he was 12 and the bug hasn't left since. He graduated from Dartmouth College in June, 2010 with a degree in Philosophy. He sailed on the Dartmouth team his freshman year. After a break he returned to the sailing scene by teaching at the Tabor Academy Summer Program. He joined HRCS in September, 2010, working with the Accredited After-School Program and now with City Sail.

Spencer Merlis

Maintenance and Membership Director

After completing a Master's Degree in Russian, Spence built his own wooden boat and sailed it from Albany to New York.  Since that time he has devoted himself to working and teaching on the water.  Sailing brings together the aesthetics, sport, learning, and teamwork that he values.  He has worked on a variety of vessels-from tallships to tugs, from cruiser to racers. He has captained and crewed up and down the Eastern Seaboard.  Spence holds a US Coast Guard Master License, and is certified by US Sailing to teach Basic Keelboat, and by the American Sailing Association to teach Coastal Cruising and Navigation. 

Chris Green

Operations Director

Christopher was born and raised in NYC and grew up sailing and working on wooden boats on the coast of Maine. He started learning about boatbuilding when he and his brother restored his family's 1928 Northeast Harbor A-Boat at a boatyard in Maine. Chris studied architecture at Cornell University and worked briefly in the field before starting to teach English and Math in NYC, but boats and the water have never been far from his horizon.

Andreas Pejovic

Youth Sailing Educator
Andreas grew up in Irondequoit, NY on the shores of Lake Ontario. His first experience sailing was at the YMCA affiliated Camp Cory on Keuka Lake, where he was instructed by the HRCS Program Director, Alex Baum. He credits summer camp and relationships developed while sailing as fundamental to the person he is today. After graduating high school he moved to New York City to pursue the arts. He currently attends Hunter College on the Upper East Side of Manhattan where he is in his Junior year.

Sam Paci

Youth Sailing Educator
Born and raised in New York, NY, Sam is no stranger to sailing in these parts. He has taught for many summers on Long Island Sound and is excited to be back at HRCS. Sam will be attending Brown University for the Spring semester but hopes to return to HRCS following that.

Christin Ripley

Youth Sailing Educator
Grew up in St. Petersburg Florida sailing dinghies and small keel boats. She has crewed several offshore transits, as well as cook and crew on tallships. She studied visual art at Cooper Union and is a great dancer. When not working at HRCS, Ripley is crew on the Schooner Pioneer at South Street Seaport.