I learned to sail small boats growing up in Savannah, GA (Sunfish, Chrysler Man-O-War) and owned a 16 ft ski boat in high school.
 

I started sailing on Lanier in the early 90's with the Mother Ocean club out of Sunrise Cove. After Mother Ocean went out of busines, I joined Lake Lanier Sailing Academy out of Holiday. While there I earned ASA 101, 103, and 104 certifications.
 

Today I live on the south end of Lanier and keep a Bennington 21SX (pontoon) and a Catalina 25 at my dock.

I am new to sailing, but not new to the water. I grew up on motorboats on the Chesapeake Bay and the rivers near Savannah, GA. My dad was a sailor and racer, and I always wanted to learn the sport. I have taken many classes at Lake Lanier Sailing Academy since 2021, and I am ASA certified. I have membership access to the LLSA Passport fleet, and I sail as often as my schedule allows.

Lisa and Jack met in 2003 and married the following May, 2004. They live in Cumming Georgia.

​

Lisa has been an avid sailor since her teens. She has crewed on dinghies; C-15’s, Lightning’s and MC Scows and cruisers; Capri 25’s, Catalina’s, J 24’s and Hunters.

Jack has been sailing since his early twenties. He is a certified ASA basic keel boat instructor. Jack enjoys cruising and racing.

Lisa and Jack also enjoy open and blue water sailing. Together they have sailed in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Chesapeake Bay, San Francisco Bay, the Grenadine’s and the BVI’s.

Angela and her husband, Scott, have lived in Johns Creek since 2002. Neither grew up near the water in Pennsylvania but love the ocean and sea air. Both are certified divers and love traveling with friends. 

Angela discovered sailing recently through her husband. During Covid, he took lessons and learned everything he could about sailing and sailboats. They currently own a houseboat on Lake Lanier and Scott participates in sailing races when crews are needed. Angela is still learning the basics but is always up for an adventure!

Boating was an item learned from my father. There was a problem though. He was a motorboater, and I got the bug for sailing. Sitting on the flybridge of his sedan cruiser in the New Buffalo Marina on Lake Michigan, sailboats would go by and skippers would ask if I wanted to crew. I usually jumped at the opportunity. 

It was several years later (after college) that I purchased my first boat. A 19’ Buccaneer that I sailed regularly on Lake Calhoun in downtown Minneapolis, and sometimes ventured out to Lake Minnetonka and White Bear Lake. The daysailer was sold due to the call of child rearing years. Many years later (after college for my children) I bought a 24’ S2 7.3 and started sailing on Lake Lanier. Pam, my first mate, had never sailed before and soon learned both the thrill and the relaxation offered by the quietness of sailboats. 

​​

When the pandemic hit, we decided we wanted more space as a getaway, and bought a Hunter 356. We’ve been enjoying our boat with Friends and Neighbors, and now look forward to sharing with members of BFSC on 1st Saturdays and other events. I enjoy all forms of boating. My philosophy of ‘any boat is better than no boat’ has led me to rafting, rowboats, kayaking, canoeing, and motorboating. I even consider a Boogie Board a boat. If it gets me out onto the water, I’m game to go. 

Sailing has been in my family and my father taught me from his experiences. I started around 16 learning on a 16 foot dinghy on a river in Cornwall. From there I have sailed and raced through different waters. 
Across the English Channel, up and down the Chesapeake Bay, over the waves off Rhode Island and now the calm or gusts of Lake Lanier. Whether it’s a 16 ft dinghy or a 42 ft Beneteau, sailing is the experience. 

David grew up in Atlanta and has lived here for most of his life.  He first sailed at a summer youth program on Lake Seneca in Upstate NY, then grew to love sailing on the much warmer waters of Lake Lanier after an “Evening at Emory” program.   

David and Jacqueline met in a whitewater canoeing class in 1989.  They started crewing BFSC races in the early 1990’s, then bought their own Catalina 250 in 1997.  After 20 years they traded up to “Out of Office”, their current Catalina 355.  More cruiser than racer, “Out of Office” enters the occasional race but is more commonly seen at the club’s cruising events. 

David and Jacqueline are living their sailing dream: sailing close to home with friends and family throughout the year, then making occasional bareboat charters for a week of blue water cruising. They’ve made repeated charters in Tampa Bay, Chesapeake Bay, and the BVI’s, with the Baths at Virgin Gorda being one of their favorite places on Earth. 

A Savannah native, Debbie South brings her lifelong love of wind and waves to her role as Barefoot Sailing’s Social Captain. Her passion for the water found a perfect match in sailing, quickly becoming her newest adventure.

With a background in organizing successful land-based fundraising events, Debbie’s skills have become a valuable asset to the many social gatherings hosted throughout the year. She helps create memorable moments for our community. After all, life is best enjoyed with good friends, great adventures, and breathtaking sunsets.

Jacqueline was first introduced to sailing on a trip to Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans with David.  She attended an ‘Evening at Emory” sailing class but learned mostly while crewing and playing with our boats.

​

David and Jacqueline met in a whitewater canoeing class in 1989.  They started crewing BFSC races in the early 1990’s, then bought their own Catalina 250 in 1997.  After 20 years they traded up to “Out of Office”, their current Catalina 355.  More cruiser than racer, “Out of Office” enters the occasional race but is more commonly seen at the club’s cruising events. 

David and Jacqueline are living their sailing dream: sailing close to home with friends and family throughout the year, then making occasional bareboat charters for a week of blue water cruising. They’ve made repeated charters in Tampa Bay, Chesapeake Bay, and the BVI’s, with the Baths at Virgin Gorda being one of their favorite places on Earth. 

I started sailing on Lake Lanier in the 90’s. I first had a Cape Dory Typhoon that was great as a learning
platform, but not very well suited to summers on Lanier. Several of my dock neighbors were avid
Barefoot racers, and they persuaded me to join them. Then, as now, Barefoot encouraged new racers,
and always matched new crew with a boat. I was instantly hooked. I have enjoyed racing with and
crewing for Barefoot members for over 20 years.

I have had my Santana 20 for 17 years, and I still love it. I like to race her, but I also do a good bit of
cruising. I just like getting up to the lake, even it’s just to tinker with the boat.

I'm a life-long Lake Lanier sailor and boater. My parents had a lake house where my brother and I dabbled with a Super Snark we found. Fast forward a few years - I joined BFSC when I was 15, and raced my Force 5, Hobie 16 and crewed on a C-15. Off to college I went, and I was a member of the local Hobie fleet in Savannah. 
 

Life happened, I sold my Hobie, bought a powerboat and didn't sail for a few years. In 1999 I started sailing again with some BFSC legends - Tom Graham, Linda and Chris Webster. In 2001 I bought a worn out J/24, which needed so much work - it helped inspire a career change later in life -  which some of you know today as GeigerWerks Marine Services. 
 

I've enjoyed a number of boats since, flipping many, and not just sailboats, but classic Boston Whalers too. I have broadened my racing venue to Charleston- enjoying a few boats down there, and continue to race as much as I can on Lanier... currently with my J/30.
 

2025 was a big year for me, as I bought a house in Flowery Branch, which has always seemed like home to me. Now, I finally feel rooted in the right place and with my lake family. Also in '25, I managed to acquire my USCG Captains License, and look forward to doing some charter and delivery work on the coast. As 2026 Racing Captain, I want to continue on with the hard work that Jeff, Chico and others have invested. I know many are like me... even if cruising to Pelican Pete's... if there's another boat nearby... it's a race.  Racing should be welcoming to all people and all boats -  fun, sometimes challenging, but always rewarding.

Erin was first introduced to sailing as a young kid in the 70s when her dad built a kit boat in the garage(!) while living in Pasadena, TX. Fast forward to the mid-2000s and she was reintroduced to sailing by fellow Barefooter Tom Beachem. These days, she helps with web editing and can be heard yelling “woohooooooo” while racing on Kathy and Jeff Paeses’ S/V Taka, an Islander P40.