officers

Caroline Kornutik is the current commodore of Liberty Yacht Club. Caroline  and her husband Marc have owned a sailboat together since 2008. 

Caroline enjoys cruising on their Beneteau 50 and racing as part of the LYC racing series. She assists Marc in crew management and communication on race nights. 

Most recently she was Fleet surgeon from 2023-2024, member of the nominating committee for several years and involved in general volunteering for club activities. 

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Interests outside of sailing are traveling and reading. During the winter months she loves to ski.

 Caroline is a registered nurse with many years of nursing and leader ship experience in hospitals.

During a very windy April week in 1996 David learned to sail on a Soling in New York Harbor. The 26’ sloop was part of Offshore Sailing School’s original fleet of boats moored in front of the Colgate Clock. After learning the basics and thrills of sailing, he was hooked on the sport for life.

Since then, David pretty much only races. In 1999 David bought his first J105 with fellow Offshore classmates Perry Moy and Henrik Pedersen and named her Synergy. All told, Team Synergy has competed in over 500 Wednesday night races in New York Harbor, over 125 regattas in the NYC metro area and have won prestigious trophies including the Segola and New England Lighthouse trophies for best performing yacht in long distance races. David has also twice competed in the Newport-Bermuda race.

In 2011 David created the event that is now known as the Liberty Cup Regatta. He joined Liberty Yacht Club in 2016 and a year later became Fleet captain. Three years later, David was then elected as Commodore and in 2021 created LYC’s Wednesday Night Race series. David is also owner and principal of Windigo Architecture, a cyclist, a skier, and a father.  

I've always been drawn to the water, whether it's surfing, fly fishing, or just spending time at the beach. My real passion, though, is for sailing. Although I've enjoyed it with friends for years, about 15 years ago I decided to get serious about taking classes and developing a sailing resume with experience that would allow my wife and me to chart new adventures in larger vessels. This has allowed us to explore Southern California's coast and the Channel Islands on our own terms. We've also had the amazing opportunities to plan and captain catamarans in Croatia and Greece.

Three years ago, work relocated us to NYC. While we don't get to sail as often, we're enjoying restoring and using our 1967 57-foot Chris-Craft vintage motor yacht as much as possible. It's a new chapter in our water-loving lives, and we're fully embracing it.

Joining the Liberty Yacht Club feels like coming home to a community that shares my love for the water. As your newly elected Rear Commodore, I am committed to enriching our club's traditions and enhancing our collective experience, ensuring that we continue to thrive and share memorable times on the water.

Rachel Ryll’s passion for sailing took root during the COVID era. Fueled by her competitive spirit, she swiftly embraced racing during Liberty Yacht Club’s Wednesday night racing and Best of the Bay series. Holding certifications as a Skipper via ASA 101-104 and qualified crew via NauticEd, Rachel's expertise in sailing is beyond textbook as she strives to gain as much experience as possible.

Beyond the sea, she's the board president of Riverview Jazz, organizers of the Jersey City Jazz Festival, and the CEO of The Statuary, a live music venue in Jersey City heights. With two decades of experience in Quality Assurance and Regulatory roles in the biotech and medical devices industry, Rachel's expertise extends far beyond the waves. Together with her husband, club member Ted Chubb, she explores the world, integrating sailing into their annual holidays.

Hearing of a co-worker learning to sail, Barry went down to Annapolis Sailing School in the mid 1990's to take his first course.  A few courses and sailing experiences later, he bought a 1975 Columbia sloop and sailed on different protected waters in Central NJ for a number of years.  With family life starting, sailing took a back seat.  In 2021, Barry joined friends for LYC Wednesday night racing, the sailing passion returned full force.  Barry became a boat owner once again naming her Sono Grato (meaning "I am grateful") and joined Liberty Yacht Club in 2022. 

Rosetta and her husband Sal are originally from Italy and have lived in the New York area for many years.

In 2003 they started sailing with friends and fell in love with the lifestyle. In 2008 they bought a Beneteau Oceanis sailboat and they named her Xarifa (meaning: “the most beautiful one”). Over the years, Rosetta & Sal have sailed the Long  Island sound, the Mediterranean Sea and some Caribbean Islands.

Professionally, Rosetta has been involved in facilities management for Italian companies and in organizing large events, such as the Italy Run in New York City. 

In 2021 Rosetta had joined LYC with Sal and she was very happy and honored to take on the Port Captain in 2023 and contribute to the many wonderful activities of the club. 

Amanda had always been a water bug rather it be in a pool or various beaches along the Jersey shore.  As she grew up her friends introduced her to jet skis, which she quickly decided were less appealing to her.  Then came the idea of buying a boat!  Owning various power boats from 21' to 27' with years of experience from the Raritan to the Barnegat she decided the shore was where she wanted to be.  Hurricane Sandy offered the opportunity to buy and renovate a waterfront home.  However, after many trips to the Annapolis and being welcomed aboard a Saba 50, dreams flourished!  Endless nights of watching You Tube and looking at Yachtworld 2018 welcomed Escapism, the Lagoon 410 she co-owns and learned to sail on.  After moving to Jersey City recently and seeking out the water a member of AHYC suggested LYC and she has been a club member since 2023.  She is very happy to have been introduced to the club as it has offered great sailing experiences with new friends and the opportunity to crew on Wednesday nights.  

Former Race Director Ed Guy has sailing in his genes – He descends from pirates that were located right here in NY Harbor – New Amsterdam privateers.  Keeping in the family tradition, he started sailing as a youth using small boats in Barnegat Bay and scout camps. 

In 1990, he crested an oasis-topped hill in Austin Texas and became enamored with the sailboats on Lake Travis.  A few months later, he bought his first sailboat.  Upon relocating back to Boston, he brought this 24’ boat along and finally back to his native NJ where he enjoyed sailing on the lower bay and beyond.  A few years later, child-rearing took precedence and boating dreams sailed away.

When his youngest became seaworthy, his family bought a 33’ foot Hunter and enjoyed it nearly every summer weekend, until it was (Hurricane) “sandyed.” Next spring brought his current ‘Sea Gazer II,” a Hunter 40.5, which he has been staying aboard for the last 5 years and active in the club for about the same time. 

He and his business partner, Nitzan Levy (who is also an LYC member), own and operate Neptune’s Daughter, a boutique boat charter brokerage company that helps clients to plan and book fun sailing trips all over the world. Neptune's Daughter has organized and led 2 LYC flotillas in the Caribbean - one in St. Martin and the other in Guadeloupe. He also works as a software engineer at a NY financial firm.

Jess Zimmer MSN-RN, CEN, TCRN works as an emergency room nurse at University Hospital in Newark, NJ. Prior to becoming a nurse in 2019, she had been a nationally registered EMT since 2010, and a US Army National Guard combat medic since 2016 (now staff sergeant and instructor).  She still occasionally works on the ambulance as a specialty care transport nurse. 

Jess started sailing during weekends home from college as forward/middle crew for her Dad in Thistle races at Seneca Yacht Club, NY, then took a break as life got busy.  She returned to sailing a few years ago, first on J-24s with MYC, and later as she and her husband Cody began staying aboard their Catalina 42 MKII in 2022.  Jess and Cody take turns racing Wednesday nights on neighboring Sono Grato, while the other cheers from the docks with their 15-month old daughter Lily.  This summer is exclusively Cody’s racing year, though, as they are expecting to welcome another daughter this fall.  Their long-term plans include slowly cruising around the world as they both work in various cities and raise their family. 

Eric has been a sailor ever since he was little. Growing up sailing PHRF races and racing on his family’s J109, sailing is in his blood. Lover of all racing, Eric competed in highly competitive and renowned races such as Block Island Race Week, Around Long Island Regatta, The Vineyard Race, as well as The J105 North American Championships hosted by American Yacht Club. Recently, Eric purchased his own boat, Rocky’s Return, a Beneteau Oceanis 361 that will be docked at Liberty Landing Marina. Eric is a longtime crew of yacht club member, Synergy. 

Outside of sailing, Eric works in digital marketing where he has designed strategy for global brands such as Brooks Brothers and Ben Sherman.