Mary Ann DeGraw

100-Ton USCG Licensed Captain

Much of Mary Ann’s life has revolved around sailing and education. She worked as a “facilitator” - helping her students and clients achieve their sailing goals and creating crews out of strangers. She taught for an international sailing school headquartered in Annapolis and spent years traveling the world to work and teach in foreign locations, including New Zealand, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean. Her favorite adventure overseas was a two month circumnavigation of Scotland with a friend and fellow captain from the Chesapeake, the two women sharing many laughs and good times on the trip. During her time as a sailing instructor, she created lifelong connections with other instructors and with students. Students who learned from her decades ago still excitedly say hi. Mary Ann’s major source of pride is instilling the love of the water and education in her children. Her daughter grew up to become an avid sailor herself, who also values the friendships formed during her mother’s time teaching. Having retired at 75 after 35 years working on the water, Mary Ann remains active in the sailing community. Her large sense of humor and her confident manner make her a force to be reckoned with, and a valuable educator.