Atlantic Challenge USA provides experiences for personal development, youth empowerment, local and international community building, seamanship skills, and connection to maritime heritage through rowing and sailing traditional boats including Bantry Bay gigs.
Atlantic Challenge USA shares the values of Atlantic Challenge International:
Atlantic Challenge USA shares the values of Atlantic Challenge International:
- Personal Development through Challenge, Perseverance, and Self-Reliance.
- Initiative and Creativity
- Community Building and Social Responsibility
- The Spirit of Adventure
- Fitness of Mind and Body
- Vocational, Cultural, and Social Life Skills
- International Understanding and Awareness
- Interest in Local and Global Maritime Heritage
Atlantic Challenge USA Current Board of Trustees:
Mary Evans - President
Riverside, Rhode Island
As a rower in High School growing up in NYC, Mary joined the Atlantic Challenge USA crew for two Contests of Seamanship, 2004 in Wales and 2006 in Genoa. She says that being on the team in Wales in 2004 remains a highlight of her life. She's been involved with AC in many different capacities ever since.
Erin Ferree - Treasurer
Riverside, Rhode Island
Erin came to Atlantic Challenge through meeting her work colleague, Mary Evans, who was running a Bantry Bay gig program with Loyauté in 2012 in Warren, Rhode Island. She and her husband Andrew became regular participants for the weekly rows and sails in Narragansett Bay.
Laura Boehm- Secretary
Chatham, Massachusetts
Laura became involved in the last several years of the most recent summer Bantry Bay gig, Community Week expeditions on Greens Island with AC USA. Her love of traditional music combined with being on the island with new friends has been a joy.
Chrisso Rheault
Cushing, Maine
Chrisso remembers the first Bantry Bay gigs launched at the Rockport Apprenticeshop in the mid 1980s, among other boat launchings he attended as a youth. A knowledgeable sailor, traditional boat historian, and maintainer of wooden boats, he often advises others in buying their own.
Atlantic Challenge USA Executive Director
Arista Holden
Belfast, Maine
Arista grew up sailing in Rockport, Maine, and first joined Atlantic Challenge as a crew member for the Russian team during the Contest hosted in Rockland in 2002. She has trained the Atlantic Challenge US team and led other Bantry Bay gig programs since 2010.
Atlantic Challenge USA is committed to creating a culture of respect, equality, listening, learning, healing, and growth in all our programs. We are committed to creating a safe space for LGTBQ+, Black, Brown, Indigenous, and People of Color to participate in our programs. The outdoors, and boating should be for all people to access and enjoy.
If you have feedback, suggestions, or ideas to help us create a more just and equitable AC USA program and community, we are listening. Please contact us.
Mary Evans - President
Riverside, Rhode Island
As a rower in High School growing up in NYC, Mary joined the Atlantic Challenge USA crew for two Contests of Seamanship, 2004 in Wales and 2006 in Genoa. She says that being on the team in Wales in 2004 remains a highlight of her life. She's been involved with AC in many different capacities ever since.
Erin Ferree - Treasurer
Riverside, Rhode Island
Erin came to Atlantic Challenge through meeting her work colleague, Mary Evans, who was running a Bantry Bay gig program with Loyauté in 2012 in Warren, Rhode Island. She and her husband Andrew became regular participants for the weekly rows and sails in Narragansett Bay.
Laura Boehm- Secretary
Chatham, Massachusetts
Laura became involved in the last several years of the most recent summer Bantry Bay gig, Community Week expeditions on Greens Island with AC USA. Her love of traditional music combined with being on the island with new friends has been a joy.
Chrisso Rheault
Cushing, Maine
Chrisso remembers the first Bantry Bay gigs launched at the Rockport Apprenticeshop in the mid 1980s, among other boat launchings he attended as a youth. A knowledgeable sailor, traditional boat historian, and maintainer of wooden boats, he often advises others in buying their own.
Atlantic Challenge USA Executive Director
Arista Holden
Belfast, Maine
Arista grew up sailing in Rockport, Maine, and first joined Atlantic Challenge as a crew member for the Russian team during the Contest hosted in Rockland in 2002. She has trained the Atlantic Challenge US team and led other Bantry Bay gig programs since 2010.
Atlantic Challenge USA is committed to creating a culture of respect, equality, listening, learning, healing, and growth in all our programs. We are committed to creating a safe space for LGTBQ+, Black, Brown, Indigenous, and People of Color to participate in our programs. The outdoors, and boating should be for all people to access and enjoy.
If you have feedback, suggestions, or ideas to help us create a more just and equitable AC USA program and community, we are listening. Please contact us.