Executive Board
The Michigan Sailing Team is run entirely by its elected executive board and general membership. If you have any questions or comments please contact the executive board at sailing.exec@umich.edu
Jack hammett — Co-Captain
Jack is a sophomore from New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up sailing on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Pass Christian, MS and Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans. He learned to sail in Optis, 420s, and Flying Scots and was a skipper for his high school sailing team. During the summer, Jack coaches 420s and Optis out of the Southern Yacht Club and sails keelboats, 420s, and Lasers. He is most excited to develop personally as a sailor while welcoming new sailors with a wide range of experience levels to the team!
Chemistry ‘26
jhammett@umich.edu
Billy Vogel — Co-Captain
Billy is a junior from Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He started sailing when he was nine, and grew up racing Optis, Lasers and 420s. In high school, he spent his summers training in the Laser on the Chesapeake with Mitch Brindey, competing on the ILCA circuit, including an appearance at the 2019 Youth Worlds. He was also a four year member of the varsity sailing team for Grosse Pointe South. Recently, Billy won the MCSA singlehanded championship in 2022 and 2023, with back-to-back appearances at the college singlehanded nationals. Billy is excited to lead the team this year with his co-captain Jack, and the rest of the board!
Aerospace Engineering ‘25
wcvogel@umich.edu
Bryson Denuyl — treasurer
Bryson is a senior from Marysville, Michigan. He grew up sailing on the J105, GoodLookin’, out of the Port Huron Yacht Club. Bryson continues to sail on GoodLookin’ weekly over the summer and has been competing in the Port Huron to Mackinac race since he was 13. Bryson was new to dinghy sailing when joining the team and continues to compete in both keelboat and dinghy racing events and is excited to continue expanding his sailing experience.
Aerospace Engineering ‘24
bdenuyl@umich.edu
Jacqueline Suarez — fundraising chair
Jacqueline is a freshman from Westport, Connecticut. She started sailing in elementary school on Vanguards, FJ’s, Sunfish and Lasers through Norwalk Sailing School. She continued sailing there recreationally each summer until the end of high school. Additionally, she was a sailing instructor at Norwalk Sailing School for three years specializing in teaching beginners. Jacqueline is excited to shift focus to developing her racing skills as a skipper for the Michigan team!
Neuroscience ‘27
jasuarez@umich.edu
Sofia David — rec sports chair
Sofia is a freshman from Easton, Massachusetts. She began sailing this year with the Michigan Sailing Team, and has really enjoyed her exposure to the sport! She now has experience sailing FJs and 420s in several regattas, and she is looking forward to developing her skills as both a crew and a skipper in the upcoming seasons!
Aerospace Engineering ‘27
sgdavid@umich.edu
Alden Gort — sailing development Chair
Alden is a sophomore from Holland, Michigan. He grew up sailing optis and 420s at Macatawa Bay Yacht Club, where he later taught the racing team for 2 years. Alden now races in the VX One and WASZP classes and looks forward to sharing his wide range of experiences to grow the UMST!
Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering ‘26
agort@umich.edu
Gillian Reynolds — communications Chair
Gillian is a freshman from Marin County, California. She grew up sailing Optis and Sunfish at summer camp on the East Coast. She transitioned to racing on a 420s team at the Beverly Hill Yacht club during summertime in middle school, before joining her high school FJ race team. She raced on her high school team for all four years through the San Francisco Yacht club. Gillian is excited to develop her skills as a sailor as well as work to create an equitable and welcoming environment to help encourage and grow all levels of sailors.
Communications ‘27
gillyr@umich.edu
Gordon fream — keelboat chair
Gordon grew up on and in the water sailing and surfing around Portland Maine. He Started sailing Optis in the summers then eventually went to 420s and lasers. He ended up teaching the Opti camp that he attended for three summers. He sailed on his high school team from eighth grade to senior year and was co-captain for 2 of those years. Gordon has sailed both dingy and keelboat regattas while at Michigan and is excited to build up the crew this year!
Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering ‘25
gfream@umich.edu
