Meet our 2025 Youth Sailing Staff
We are excited to introduce the six members of our QYC Sailing Instructor staff for the 2025 season!
Oren Avrahami will be our Sailing Director at QYC this summer. In May, he graduated from UMass Amherst with a dual degree in Biomedical Engineering and Biochemistry. He attended sailing camp for years as a child, progressing from learning the basics to racing. Oren served as a volunteer at a boating camp for two years then as a sailing instructor in high school.
Matthew Squadrito joins QYC as a Senior Instructor. Matthew is a recent graduate of Lynnfield High School and will be attending William and Mary College in the fall. Matthew attended the QYC Sailing Program as a student for several years and was an instructor in the program in 2023. He recently completed the US Sailing Level 1 Certification program.
Ilan Avrahami is a rising sophomore at UMass, Amherst, majoring in Computer Science and Physics and will be a Senior Instructor. He learned to sail at Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association at summer camps starting at 7 years old. He also sailed the family's O'Day Day Sailer, San Juan 24, and 420. He has taught children from 3 to 12 how to bicycle and has worked in the boating program at the Arlington Boys and Girls Club.
Gabe Samra is a student at St. John's Prep in Danvers, MA. He learned to sail in the Youth Sailing Program at QYC and last year served as our Junior Instructor. This year, he will be coaching in the position of Instructor. In addition to cruising the waters of Lake Quannapowitt while racing for the SJP team, he enjoys sailing on Cape Cod and in Washington state, and fences for St. John's Prep. Gabe and Matthew are certified life guards.
Liam Eckler is also a student at St. John's Prep. He joins our staff as a Junior Instructor. His sailing experience began in the Youth Sailing Program at QYC, an he spent three summers at a sailing camp in upstate New York learning different boats, and gaining experience as crew on a racing boat. When he's not on the water, you might find him throwing a disc for SJP's Ultimate Frisbee Club or working the light and sound booth for the SJP Drama Guild.
Tessa Nganga is a student at The Brooks School, and is a member of the varsity basketball team. Her love of sailing started when she attended the QYC Youth Sailing Program for two years and joins the staff this year as an Instructor-in-Training. She is experienced in all the boats in our program, Opti, Mercury, 420s, Sunfish and Lasers.
Oren, Matthew, and Ilan will be instructors for our Adult Learn to Sail program and for Private Lessons.
Last updated 9:14pm on 20 June 2025