About Kristen Berry
Kristen Berry is the coach of the National Maritime Heritage Foundation's National Capital High School Sailing program.  A US Sailing certified instructor and ISAF Grade 3 sailor who has sailed and raced dinghies, day sailors, keelboats and cruisers.  He cut his teeth sailing Santa Cruz 70’s and a 22-foot cruiser on the Great Lakes, but has since sailed and found success in smaller boats and One Design classes including the Laser, J22, Melges 24, J80, and J105.

Kristen comes from a family of teachers and coaches - teaching is in his bones.  Before becoming a sailing coach, he was a swimming and diving coach and a fly-fishing and rock-climbing instructor. 

When he’s not coaching for NMHF, Kristen owns and operates Gale Force Sailing. Gale Force Sailing provides corporate team building events on sailboats as well as racing instruction, instructional lectures, and private coaching for clubs, teams, and individuals.  Gale Force Sailing also providing strategic partnership consulting for conservation focused non-profit organizations seeking to better communicate with the sailing community.  

In addition to his work with Gale Force Sailing, Kristen coaches for JWorld Annapolis –the top ranked sailing school in the United States and writes a monthly article about better sail trim and boat handling for Spinsheet, a Chesapeake Bay focused sailing magazine.

Kristen has competed in several World, US, and North American championship events.  In 2007 he placed 4th at the J80 North American Championships held in Annapolis, MD.  He is currently preparing to compete the 2008 US Sailing Match Racing Championship, 2008 J22 World Championships, District 11 Laser Championship, and 100th Annual Chicago to Mackinac Race  - among other events. 

In 2008, Coach Berry is pursuing additional US Sailing coaching certifications, a US Coast Guard Captain’s license, and his EMT-B medical certification.  

Before becoming a sailing coach, Kristen worked in government affairs, campaigns and elections, as well as other related fields in Washington, DC.  Kristen was the Executive Director of Our Nation’s Capital, a DC based advocacy organization.  Driven by a deep personal commitment to environmental protection and conservation, Kristen was also the president of BirdPAC and was the Director of Communications and Grassroots Manager of The National Audubon Society.