COMMODORE
Lynn Durbin
commodore@scow.org

Lynn’s love of sailing began in high school, where she sailed with friends on the Great South Bay in a small town on Long Island, NY. After a decades-long hiatus from sailing, she picked it up again, first through the Washington Sailing Marina, then by joining SCOW in 2013.

Since then, Lynn has become both a Flying Scot and Cruiser Skipper. She shares her passion for sailing as an Trainer for SCOW’s Basic Sailing class, a tutor for both Flying Scots and cruisers, and by actively participating in maintenance projects for the Flying Scot fleet.

Lynn is the owner of Flying Scot 5422, which she sails in the Potomac River, and Flying Scot 3976, which she sails on the Great South Bay.

When not sailing or thinking about sailing, Lynn runs her personal training businesses in McLean, gardens and spends time with her family. She is also a lifelong NY Mets fan.

Candidate Statement:

It is an honor to serve as Commodore on SCOW’s Board of Directors. Thanks to the Board and the work of many dedicated SCOW sailors, we have accomplished a lot this year, including expanding SCOW’s footprint to Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay; involving  more members and revising the format of raft-ups to fit the changing needs of club while expanding River and Bay activities to include regular events on the Chesapeake Bay;  working through the Skipper and Training Directors to certify even more new skippers; introducing a docking seminar which we hope to hold on a regular basis, and so much more.

In serving as Commodore for a second year, I will continue working with the Board of Directors towards evaluating and updating our policies and procedures to ensure they serve SCOW’S present and future needs as our membership continues to grow.

SCOW has a friendly vibe with members who are eager to share their knowledge and experience with others and to promote sailing as an activity available to everyone. It is what makes SCOW unique as an organization, and along with good stewardship, contributes to its longevity and success. I will do my part to contribute to this legacy.

VICE COMMODORE
Brian McPherson
vice@scow.org

Brian joined SCOW about 12 years ago after discovering a nearby all-volunteer sailing club. He increased his involvement each year serving as Bosun, Skipper Director, Vice Commodore and Commodore. Currently Vice Commodore. Brian is both a Flying Scot & Cruiser skipper and Flying Scot trainer.

When not at the marina - Brian resides in Alexandria with his wife Missy. Their children Rob & Heather are both SCOW Members. Brian is a CFP & Senior Vice President for the past 32 years with Raymond James & Associates.

Candidate Statement:
The club is in great shape – membership is strong, the training program continues to be popular, both Social Sail and WNR have great attendance, we've added a cruiser – your club is thriving.

SECRETARY
John Duckworth
secretary@scow.org

After relocating to Alexandria in early 2022, John discovered SCOW after happening upon the Washington Sailing Marina looking to rent a sailboat. Now, a Flying Scot and cruiser skipper, he's an avid sailor and (thanks to SCOW) racer. John worked this year as a bosun on the cruiser maintenance team and looks forward to many more seasons of fun and learning on the water.

Candidate Statement:
I am delighted to accept the nomination for secretary and am looking forward to the opportunity to continue contributing to a club that gives so much to its members.

TREASURER
Mike Hooban
treasurer@scow.org

Mike began sailing with business associates in London, on the Thames River, in a type of dinghy called an Enterprise, in the mid 2000’s. On his first outing the boat capsized under Kew Bridge, so it could only get better from then on. He also had the opportunity to sail in the Solent (the channel between mainland England and the Isle of Wight) on a large keel-boat (probably 35 feet or so). He ultimately decided to take sailing lessons at Belle Haven Marina, and subsequently joined SCOW in 2011. After buying his own boat, an American 14.6, and sailing it from Washington Sailing Marina for a few years, Mike purchased a Flying Scot, the “Green Hornet” in 2014, and began racing it with SCOW at the urging of Julian Mallett, Dick Vida and Dave Beckett. Mike has served as SCOW treasurer in 2015 through 2025.

Mike is retired from 30+ years of business ownership, previously worked for 7 and a half years for Arthur Young & Company (now Ernst & Young) and is a 6.5 year Army veteran of the Vietnam conflict as well as service in Korea. He has an MBA degree, and has served as treasurer and general manager of other entities, including his son’s 1st division soccer team in the NCSL (National Capitol Soccer League), and Team River Runner, a 501c3 organization dedicated to helping injured veterans recover through paddle sports such as kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddle boarding. In addition to sailing, both competitive and recreational, Mike enjoys kayaking, cycling, and building model boats.

Mike has enjoyed enormously his association with SCOW and the many good people in the club. Mike is married to Ok Sop (since 1971), lives in Arlington, and has four grown children and two grandchildren, Wyatt and Ella. Mike is an instructor in SCOW’s sailing training program, a tutor and a checkout skipper, has filled in as Training Director, and has supported the Special Olympics and the Leukemia Cup.

Candidate Statement:
I like to feel I’ve made a contribution as treasurer in each year since 2015 and hope to do the same in 2026. My goals are to keep the organization on its current firm financial footing and make sure that funds are used wisely and in accordance with SCOW policies.

Specific goals are to maintain the records on a current basis, provide regular reports to the board to support decision making, make sure that bill payments and expense reimbursements are done on a very timely basis, and ensure that the budget process is followed, and that funds are managed in accordance with budget guidelines and SCOW by-laws.

I am hoping to see a team of mature, experienced, committed people, with demonstrated performance in SCOW and elsewhere, elected to the 2026 board. I hope the incoming board will prove as competent and dedicated as previous boards. I believe the focus should be on key items such as accountability, opportunities for member participation, evaluating our fleet configuration, and achieving a balance among club activities. It will be my goal to provide support and insight into the financial aspects of each of these areas I think it will be especially important to have experienced leadership in this difficult and uncertain time.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR
Tricia Wolfbauer
social@scow.org

Tricia started sailing in 2010. Growing up in Metro-Detroit she had a natural love of boating and the water. Tricia met her first crew at the Annapolis Boat Show, while volunteering with CRAB (Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating). She gleefully started off as “weight” for the Race Across the Bay and raced on a few different boats that summer. It was at one of the famous post-race Tiki Bar parties where she met her next crew and began racing in the Women’s Frostbite Series in Solomon’s, MD, eventually moving up to the role of Trim. Tricia found and started sailing with SCOW in 2021 as a fun, outdoor, relatively “socially distant” activity, participating mainly in the Wednesday Night Racing Series. Unfortunately, she had to take a year off while working nightshift, but she was able to come back to SCOW in 2023, mainly for the Thursday Social Sails. In 2024 she completed the SCOW Skipper Class and in 2025 started volunteering as Social Director.  Tricia funds her sailing habit by “daylighting” as a General Engineer for the Federal Government. She is also heavily involved in ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) in our DMV section. Tricia loves giving back to the communities that invigorate herself and others.

SCOW is the best sailing group I’ve encountered. Since the first time I met you, I knew you were my people. Not only are you sailors, but you are funny, kind, welcoming, & down-to-earth. I am excited to come back this year as Social Sail Director and put to use what I learned last year.  I hope to continue serving SCOW in a way that honors the Social Sail Legacy – making new members feel like long-time friends since the first day they meet us.

TRAINING DIRECTOR
Allen Flanigan
training@scow.org

Allen Flanigan has served as SCOW's Training Director for the past three years. He grew up in Connecticut and got his first exposure to sailboats (Sunfish) on the Connecticut shoreline at a family picnic. While studying Physics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute from 1978-1982, he learned to sail lasers on Indian Lake in Worcester MA, and also spent 7 weeks doing a college project at Mystic Seaport Museum, surrounded by classic wooden sailboats, some of which he actually got to sail. A career at the US Patent and Trademark Office brought him to Alexandria, VA and the Potomac River.

Occasional boat rentals at WSM and while on vacation at Cape Cod led to his first boat purchase. Shortly after joining Hobie fleet 196 and becoming active in the fleet, long time SCOW member Bennett Ackerman and his wife Jean enlisted Allen's help with their Montgomery County Special Olympic sailing program. In 1999 Allen sailed with Virginia athlete Kirsten Stone in the Special Olympics World Games and went on to start a Virginia Special Olympic sailing program in Alexandria. His Patent Office career gave him the flexibility to pursue his sailing passion and other hobbies while raising a family. He joined SCOW in 2017 and lives a busy retired life. He can often be seen out on the Potomac on various sailboats, or at the marina working on his own boats or helping other people with theirs.

Candidate Statement:
Fellow Sailors and Sailing Enthusiasts - I am honored to be asked to serve as Training Director once again in 2026.We had a somewhat challenging but successful training season in 2025.  Winds came and went, and we did our best to adapt to the vagaries of mother nature, and human scheduling conflicts to get dozens of SCOW members trained.

I hope that with your support I can once again strive to provide high quality sailing training to as many members as possible, and help SCOW continue its tradition of social and sailing engagement between members by teaching all of our skippers and prospective skippers how to safely enjoy the Potomac on our boats.  To me there is nothing as fun as getting out on the Potomac in a fair breeze with a crew of enthusiastic sailors to experience the camaraderie, challenge, and contemplation that getting out on the river offers, and I will do my part to keep the spirit of SCOW alive.  I look forward to working closely with Ronnie Lewis as Skipper Director, and I hope you will support him and vote for him.  I believe we have a really strong slate of candidates this year who will make 2026 an even better sailing year than 2025 (if that's possible!)

RIVER/BAY ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR
Marco Ovando
river@scow.org

Marco likes cats. He first fell in love with them on a beach in San Diego, CA, and has owned at least one ever since. He started pirating/sailing the Potomac last century where he has discovered many of the 9 inch shoals personally. He has also sacrificed more than his fair share of shoes and phones to the river gods. 

As a member of SCOW, Marco first joined in 2017 (all other records seem to have been lost, or destroyed). He became a Cruiser skipper in 2023, and a Cruiser Racing Instructor/Checkout Skipper in 2025. He now sails most regularly in a couple of racing teams on the bay, and with the Naval Academy.  Due to the respectability of these recent endeavors, he worries constantly about loosing his pirate certification.

Candidate Statement:
I am wholly unqualified for the position of River/Bay Director, so I would like to nominate you for it next...you have been warned.  I have enjoyed sailing our cruisers, both on the river and now the bay as part of our river/bay program under Amy and Bailey, I think I can help continue their hard work, and I look forward to working with all our skippers and members to come up with fun ways to be out on the water.  There is a peace and beauty I find while sailing, which keeps bringing me back.

MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR FLYING SCOTS
Gonzalo San Martin
scotmaint@scow.org

Gonzalo has been a SCOW member since 2023 and is completing his first year as Flying Scot Maintenance Director. In this role, he has learned a great deal about fleet care and has been privileged to count on the support of experienced members—starting with former FSMD Dana Howe—while helping to keep all six Flying Scots in good condition and available to members. He has also begun reactivating the Bosun role, with three Bosuns already onboard to share responsibilities and strengthen the maintenance team.

Originally from Chile, Gonzalo now lives in Arlington. He often rides his bicycle to the marina and enjoys spending time with his son, including playing football together and going to the stadium to watch games. Professionally, Gonzalo works in impact investing, supporting social enterprises across Latin America.

Candidate Statement:
Serving as Flying Scot Maintenance Director this past year has been a rewarding experience. I have focused on keeping all six Flying Scots safe, well-maintained, and available for members, while also learning a great deal about the fleet. I have been privileged to count on the support and advice of experienced members—starting with former FSMD Dana Howe—which has made this work both collaborative and enjoyable.

Looking ahead, I plan to continue strengthening our maintenance processes, making repairs more efficient, and ensuring clear communication with skippers. A key part of this is reactivating the Bosun role to distribute responsibilities more effectively. We already have three Bosuns onboard, and I look forward to building on this model to ensure better care for each boat and more opportunities for member involvement.

The Flying Scots are at the heart of SCOW’s training, racing, and social activities, and I am committed to maintaining them to the highest standards so that all members can enjoy their time on the water.

MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR CRUISERS
Joe Caminiti
cruisermaint@scow.org

Joe Caminiti has proudly served as our Cruiser Maintenance Director since 2023. He brings a wealth of leadership experience, having operated several successful businesses & retired as a Detective Sergeant in Law Enforcement. With a distinguished background in criminal investigations and leadership roles, his career began as a Marine Unit Pilot in Maryland, where he first combined his passion for water with professional service.

A lifelong mariner, Joe was raised by island born immigrant parents, instilling in him a deep connection to the sea. His love of yachting grew during high school on the Chesapeake Bay, became First Mate aboard a 62-foot Chris-Craft Motor Yacht where he was taught to expertly navigate tight quarters around million-dollar vessels & perform precision pirouette maneuvers in Annapolis’ Ego Alley during client charters. His marine carpentry skills were instrumental in extending their charter yacht’s bow beyond its original 50-foot design, adding a fourth deck and flying bridge. Joe’s dedication to yacht maintenance is fueled by years of hands-on experience & mentorship from expert craftsmen & seasoned captains. His skill set includes engine repair & maintenance, line & sail work, canvas repair & sewing, as well as metal, wood, & fiberglass fabrication.

Joe’s passion grows by racing sailboats, coastal cruising, bay sailing & going offshore sailing on the Atlantic & on international waters. As privateer/owner/skipper of his SV Scorpion I, a Flying Scot & MV SweetWater based in Ocean City, Maryland, he holds ASA Instructor & International Yachtsman Certifications for both monohulls & catamarans. As our volunteer Boat Acquisitions Chair, he & his team purchased our new Catalina Cruiser: SV Calypso & received the 2025’s Board approval to develop & launch our new Bay Sailing Program which develops all Club members as Crew & Skippers to safely enjoy our Chesapeake Bay. He’s a Club FS & Cruiser Checkout Skipper who enjoys Tutoring & Instructing club members so they can fulfill their nautical dreams. He obtained all required certifications for his United States Coast Guard 100-Ton Master Captain’s License with Sailing & Towing Endorsements.

Candidate Statement:

I respectfully request to volunteer for the Cruiser Maintenance Director position for SCOW 2026. We’ve had a very successful year keeping our Cruisers Shipshape. I owe it all to the amazing 2025 Bosun Teams. If elected I will do my best to contribute to the club’s successes and legacy, especially by the example of the Directors before me. Creating the safest SCOW Cruisers is paramount for us as an organization and ensuring the furtherance of our beloved sport of sailing. I’m looking forward to working with, teaching and leading our amazing Bosun Team 2026 in our Cruiser Maintenance program. I plan to recruit others in the spirit of volunteerism so as to grow our club and ensure more skilled Bosuns come behind us to seek the growth and benefit of our various positions that our Club offers. 

RACING DIRECTOR
David Metcalf
racing@scow.org

David comes from a line of New England salts and began racing as a teen in San Diego. He kept up with sailing off and on, and until a few years ago spent his weekends chasing three children in travel soccer. In 2020 he rediscovered his love for sailboat racing and after participating in Wednesday Night Racing he bought his first Flying Scot. He is enthusiastic about sailboat racing which he calls “The great undiscovered sport” and hopes you will join him for WNR and for SCOW regattas. David lives in Centreville; he is a Civil Engineer with a specialty in transportation and works for Volkert Inc.

Candidate Statement: 

I have sincerely enjoyed this past year as your Racing Director. Many thanks to a large cast of fellow sailors that have make our program possible. We will continue to build on the legacy of Dave Beckett and Bonnie Slywester to make SCOW Racing fun and competitive. 

I have witnessed that SCOW is the one club at the WSM that gives inexperienced sailors the chance to get comfortable with sailing. Racing improves boat handling, sail trim and general seamanship. As such I believe the racing program plays an important role for SCOW to meet its goals.

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR
Reid Porter
membership@scow.org

Reid was a lifelong Texan until he decided in 2013 that working in the international development sector in DC would be a good long-term career move. He has been an aspiring sailor for the better part of a decade and an actual sailor for about 4 years. He joined SCOW in 2023, became a Flying Scot skipper in 2024, and will hopefully be christened as a new cruiser skipper before the end of 2025. He's also part of the "Bosun Team" for Calypso by virtue of being unable to say no to Joe Caminiti. 

Off the water, Reid volunteers with his neighborhood commission in DC (ANC 5B) as the chair for the Transportation and Public Space committee, where he advocates for safer streets and better multi-modal transportation infrastructure. When he's not on a boat, he's on his bike, and when he's not on his bike, he's probably thinking about when he can get back on one or the other. 

He has an awesome family — a wife, two daughters (10 and nearly-6), and an elderly pooch — that are remarkably tolerant of his many time-consuming and expensive hobbies.

Candidate Statement:
I'm delighted to accept the nomination to Membership Director, and look forward to giving back to the people of this club that have been so generous to me in time, friendship, and tutelage. 

SKIPPER DIRECTOR
Ronnie Lewis
skipper@scow.org

Growing up on the banks of the Arkansas river where it crosses from Oklahoma into Arkansas, I was outdoorsy a boater, not a sailor.  I boated in rivers and lakes and stood in creeks and streams “waving a stick” as John Geirach once said. I was more rodeo, motorcycles, hunting, and fishing. 

I’m a retired federal employee.  For work I traveled a lot, solved a bunch of different problems with a host of unique technologies, and acquired a lot of unusual experiences as an American abroad.

During my personal time, aside from reading, I had limited time for hobbies and other activities; though I tried several.

Later in life I started teaching high-performance driving on race tracks on the East Coast.  I love doing that.  Teaching people enthusiastic to learn is rewarding and I got paid in free track time for me.  I think I enjoy tutoring sailors for similar reasons.

When I retired I bought a powerboat for fishing and started building bicycles.  The boat is at a marina on the Occoquan.  The bikes in my shed or basement.  That’s right, 2 bikes at the moment.

I belong to Carefree Boat Club.  A powerboat “club” which is more a service than a club.  

I joined SCOW in 2015, but didn’t become a skipper until 2023.  Take heart, candidates, I failed the water checkout the first time.  Only an exceptional tutor pushed me over the finish line.  Since then, I have worked on refining and expanding my skills. 

Candidate Statement:

Firstly, I want to serve the club as Skipper Director because, as George Bernard Shaw wrote, (and I paraphrase) I imagine things that could be and ask why not?  Ultimately, I want to improve members’ awareness and understanding of the process to become a Flying Scot Skipper with SCOW.  Crafting expectations for candidates and guidance for tutors will help create a program where tutors can give meaningful feedback to candidates; allowing candidates to engage other tutors with knowledge of what those candidates need to work on. Key to success will be to largely focus on documenting requirements, not adding burdens which don’t contribute meaningfully to the progress of candidates.  Your inputs and engagement will be sought at every step.  I believe I have the desire, experience, and necessary skills to pursue positive change within the club.