Huck Whittemore, Head Sailing Instructor
Hello everyone, my name is Huck Whittemore, and this is my fourth year at Sail To Prevail. I have been sailing in Newport since the age of 10. I started sailing Optis and later 420’s at the Brenton Cove Racing Program.
Outside of sailing, I enjoy running, cycling, and all things outdoors. I am a sophomore at Colorado College, and I live in Westerly, RI. I’m super excited to be back for another year!
Kat Fechner, Sailing Instructor
Kat is a passionate sailing instructor hailing from the coastal state of Massachusetts. Her love for sailing began at a young age when she first set foot on a boat at age 10 in Newport RI. Over the years, Kat has honed her sailing skills by navigating the challenging waters of the Northeast and has previously worked at Regatta Point Community Sailing in Worcester MA for 4 years.
When Kat is not out on the water, she can often be found exploring the scenic trails of central New York, where she attends Colgate University. She is a double major in Chinese and International Relations, with plans to become a corporate lawyer in the future. She is also a member of the Colgate Sailing Club.
Kat believes sailing should always be fun and does her best to instill confidence and skill in her students while maintaining a relaxed, friendly environment. She can’t wait to make new friends and share her love of sailing with everyone she meets at Sail To Prevail!
South Fulweiler, Sailing Instructor
My name is South Fulweiler, and I live in Jamestown, Rhode Island. I’ve been sailing since I was 6 years old, mostly in Optis and then moving to dinghy racing in 420s, Lasers and FJs. I’ve raced competitively from Miami to Canada, and last year I did a transatlantic ocean crossing on a sailboat from Bermuda to Spain. I’m a rising junior at St. George’s School and a member of the SG sailing team. This is my first year with Sail to Prevail, and I’m super thrilled with the opportunity to spend my summer on the water as part of such an amazing program!
Drea Keswater, Sailing Instructor
My name is Drea Keswater, and I am from Torrance, California. I am currently in my senior year at the University of South Florida studying economics. I have been sailing both dinghies and keelboats for about 15 years now. This will be my first year at STP, and I am very excited to join this awesome program.
Lucas Masiello, Sailing Instructor
My name is Lucas Masiello, and this is my first year at Sail To Prevail. I am a rising senior on the University of Rhode Island Sailing Team, where I study journalism, and currently work as a writer for Sailing World Magazine. Prior to working for Sail To Prevail, I coached youth race teams at Sail Newport and the Annapolis Yacht Club and did community sailing work for the Downtown Sailing Center in Baltimore, MD. As far as my own sailing, I regularly compete in distance races on J121 Ceilidh in Massachusetts, and sail in the IC37 and C&C 30 fleets in Newport. I’m looking forward to continuing my community sailing work with Sail To Prevail and spending the summer in Newport!
Libby Toppa, Sailing Instructor
Hi, my name is Libby Toppa, and I am very excited to be joining Sail To Prevail this summer! Being the mother of three daughters who grew up sailing through their junior and college careers, I want to continue pushing and inspiring others to get involved with this amazing sport! Following up a thorough physical therapy career of my own, I know that joining forces with Sail To Prevail will be a great opportunity for me to continue my passions of supporting people through sailing and growing their love for the water!
Hadley Wheeler, Sailing Instructor
I have been sailing at Saunderstown Yacht Club since I was 8 years old, but I also spent my early childhood on boats before then. I have participated in all different types of classes, from relaxed to racing. I go to Rocky Hill Country Day School, where I am going into my senior year this fall. I am looking into different colleges but haven’t decided exactly where I want to go just yet. I enjoy school and participating in my classes. I just did an internship at Rhode Island Hospital, where I shadowed cardiologists and learned more about healthcare in Rhode Island. Last summer, I raced 420s at Saunderstown Yacht Club, and this summer, I am looking forward to working with Sail To Prevail. I look forward to making priceless memories with everyone joining us this summer!
