Oakcliff Sailing Staff
As CEO and captain of America True, Dawn Riley was the first woman to manage an America’s Cup sailing team. She has raced on four America’s Cup and two Whitbread (now The Ocean Race) teams. She is the former president of the Woman’s Sports Foundation, served on the board of US Sailing, and is an advisor to several public service organizations.
Dawn Riley
Executive Director
Mamadou originally worked in the Shellfish industry in Oyster Bay but after the downsizing he walked down the street and began working at Oakcliff. He has brought many things to the table including a great work ethic and French lessons. Added to this he is a musician from a small island, Somone, in Senegal and later moved to Oyster Bay.
Mamadou Yade
Shore
Ethan began racing at high school in Southern Maryland, gained skills quickly & began coaching the school's team, expanding STEM programs and racing keel-boats. Determined to follow his dream to race around the world, he left everything behind to train at Oakcliff. Arriving in 2015, Ethan has skippered & navigated successful offshore races, while cross training in Match Racing & Foiling Cats. Onshore, Ethan enjoys backpacking, photography, and fishing. Currently he is pursuing shorthanded racing and his love for fitness.
Ethan Johnson
Training Program Director
Siri’s greatest passion is sailing. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio where she raced lasers and other dinghies and helped develop the Junior Racing program at Leatherlips Yacht Club from the ground up. She enjoys computer-aided design and studied Interior Architecture at Ohio University where she was the Sailing Club Commodore. Siri came to Oakcliff as a Sapling to pursue offshore racing and is excited to learn about more technical boats and associated shore skills.
Siri Schantz
Match 40 Fleet Capt.
Patrice has been our regatta director since 2022. She manages all OA and PRO duties for match racing and Olympic-class regattas, race management training, competitor and volunteer engagement, retail operations, and the bunkhouse. Patrice comes to sailing late in life and has developed an avid love for the sport. She sails with her sister, Danielle Gallo, who introduced her to Oakcliff in 2014. Beyond sailing, Patrice has been a dedicated PTA advocate since 1995, engaging at the local, state, regional, and national levels.
Patrice Rachlin
Regatta Director
Allie is from San Diego, California. She has been sailing for as long as she can remember. She started racing her favorite boat, lasers, when she was twelve and she grew to be very competitive in the fleet. Her first time here was at the WMRT Acorn Program in 2022 and she developed into a sapling, intern, and is now on staff. She races lasers, offshore, and match racing. While at Oakcliff, she is enrolled in college full-time and wants to do an olympic campaign in her future.
Allie Shand
PR and Marketing
Ewan Dossin started sailing at 9 years old at Lakewood Yacht Club in Houston, Texas. He came to Oakcliff as a winter sapling and to finish High School. He has continued on as our Sailmaker and High Performance Beach Captain.
Ewan Dossin
Sailmaker
Kathy is a Bayville local and joined our staff late spring of 2026 and has been with us ever since!
Kathy
Bookkeeper
River a German Shepherd, Australian Cattle Herding dog mix flew from California in Oct 2024. River was rescued at age 6mo by Ethan. She brings her knowledge of fast running to the team workouts. She loves all adventures and may be one of the only dogs to sail on a maxi sailboat. River's short-term goal is to go foiling. Her favorite activities include; morning runs, fishing, belly rubs, and keeping the boatyard free of squirrels. River is really bringing the team together, and he can’t wait to meet you.
River
First MateOur on-site support network
Dobby is the pup that rules the office. He first came to us in May of 2021, along with his assistant Wyz. Dobby is notorious for his short yet muscular stature. He is calm, collected, and makes sure to make his food rounds during morning meetings. Although he is not much of a sailor, he did serve as admiral for the Saint Maarten Yacht Club Islands Challenge Team from 2011 to 2019. He believes it was his leadership that helped the team win the event. There is nothing he loves more than sunbathing and scratches.
Doby
The Admiral
Job opening - sail on fast boats, manage an energetic team, be the guiding force on building American Leaders through sailing. Email race@oakcliffsailing.org for more information.
OPEN POSITION
SailmakerJob opening - sail on fast boats, manage an energetic team, be the guiding force on building American Leaders through sailing. Email race@oakcliffsailing.org for more information.
OPEN POSITION
OperationsJob opening - sail on fast boats, manage an energetic team, be the guiding force on building American Leaders through sailing. Email race@oakcliffsailing.org for more information.
OPEN POSITION
Staff SpecialistJob opening - sail on fast boats, manage an energetic team, be the guiding force on building American Leaders through sailing. Email race@oakcliffsailing.org for more information.