I am happy to announce that the Salty Dawgs have a new Rally Director.  Tracy Oliver  (S/V GypSea) will begin serving in that position, commencing on July 1, 2026.  

Tracy's love of sailing began as a child at the foot of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, when he found the broken remains of a Styrofoam Snark washed ashore after a nor’easter, cobbled it back together with a plywood rudder, centerboard, and tarp sail, and spent the summer sailing off the beach.  That early adventure launched more than 50 years on the water, including thousands of offshore miles and more than 1,500 racing starts around the world on everything from dinghies and beach cats to keelboats, foiling A-Cats, and 84-foot ocean racing catamarans.

After retiring from dentistry in 2019, Tracy and his wife Kimmie bought GypSea and began the next chapter of their sailing lives, joined along the way by their children, Barbara Ann and Galt, and later by their dog TiKi and cat Charlie.  Since joining the Salty Dawg Sailing Association, they have participated in numerous rallies, including Hampton to the Bahamas, the Downeast Rally, and three Caribbean rallies to Antigua, most recently completing the 2025 passage with just the two of them and their furry crew aboard.  Tracy brings deep sailing experience, racing discipline, offshore perspective, and a strong appreciation for the support, knowledge, and community that define the Salty Dawgs.

Tracy will be taking over from Doug Weibel, who served with distinction.  I want to express my sincere gratitude to Doug for a Job well done!  Tracy has big shoes to fill.

Mike Benjamin, President