YAMs are our Future at FBYC
on Wednesday January 6, 2021 08:32AM
FBYC's future is very much determined by retaining and attracting new young adult members (YAMs) and there is no one better to lead that effort than Mary Catherine Buhl McAllister. (Or "Cappy" as she will always be known to many.)
Mary Catherine's sailing career began during 1998 during Junior Week when she was seven years old. "That year, the Junior Week shirts were yellow and my oversized shirt fit me like a dress," she says. "I've grown a bit since then, but that yellow shirt has survived the years and I still proudly wear it.
"After growing up in the Junior Program, in Optis and Lasers, I transitioned to college racing at Christopher Newport University. My CNU sailing days were transformative. I learned so much on and off the water as a sailor and I will be forever grateful to my late sailing coach, Dan Winters.
Mary Catherine and her husband, Ian, are committed to growing the young adult membership at FBYC despite living more than three hours away in northern Virginia. "Having grown up at Fishing Bay, I am very attached to the club and have so many happy memories from those years." Cappy and Ian will continue to build on their efforts from last year to develop compelling programs, both on and off the water, to attract young people to the club. They invite member of all ages to join them!