Project Sail, Inc.

Education Under sail

Board member’s biography

Phone: 917-797-8914

E-mail: asingh@projectsail.net

Uche Akwuba Jr, D.O.– As a former member of Ship 272, Dr. Akwuba is very interested in developing the youth sail training program. He found his experiences on Ship 272 to be very valuable. Uche earned both an Eagle Scout and a Quartermaster rating. He has also served as mate and educator on schooner Pioneer. He graduated from Cornell College and the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is currently in his first year of residency and plans to spend as much of his little free time he has with his wife Adelka and the Green Lantern.

Captain Tommy M. Seda– Treasurer 

Capt. Seda started his maritime career as a high school intern with City As School on the schooner Pioneer at the South Street Seaport Museum. His story reinforces the importance of alternate education and experiential learning programs for NYC youth. Tommy excelled at the Museum over the years became a United Sates Coast Guard licensed captain on the schooner Pioneer, Tug W.O. Decker and a variety of water taxis and charter vessels in NY Harbor. Tommy’s passion for education programs and vessel restoration is evident through his dedication to the Museum and Project Sail. Tommy as a banker at chase sees his marine career as release from the hustle and bustle of his duties during the day.

Michael Yamin- Secretary

Michael  has been a sailor all his life, starting with his father’s 12-foot gaff -rigged catboat on Lake Erie, he sailed 24-ft to over 60- foot sloops on Long Island Sound and elsewhere, for a few years owned a 32 foot sloop. He was an active Eagle Scout and for several years served on active duty at sea as a Naval officer. He has been a “hands on” Pioneer volunteer for over 4 years. Michael Yamin is a senior partner of a NYC law firm and has been active in various capacities with Harvard College, Harvard Law School and the Harvard Club of NYC. He serves as a Director of the Harvard Alumni Association and is President of the Harvard Club of New York Foundation. He also serves as a trustee of other not-for-profit organizations, principally involved with mentoring students and helping raise scholarship funds. He is also active at St. Bartholomew’s church, where he serves on its Planning and Budget Committee.

Murray Fisher- Was born in Bogota, Colombia, but grew up on an organic cattle farm just outside of Richmond, VA. He spent his summers on the James River, on a lake in New Hampshire, and on Long Island Sound. His life-long passion for water and interest in education drove him to start New York Harbor School after three years at Waterkeeper Alliance and one year at Hudson Riverkeeper. Previously, Murray attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, where he majored in Biology and double-minored in Environmental Studies and Latin American Studies. During a year off of college he worked for the Wildlife Conservation Society in Peru and Bolivia studying macaws and various species of monkeys, where he decided his interest lay more in environmental education and policy than in strict wildlife biology.