Who we are

Kilroy Sail Training was founded in 2025 to teach sailing and help people reach their dreams out on the water. Based in New Orleans and sailing primarily on Lake Pontchartrain and the gulf coast it is a great place to learn how to sail, cruise, or race.

Why the name Kilroy? Captain Matt has a Master’s degree in World War II Studies and the G.I. graffiti of “Kilroy Was Here” with the little cartoon figure was seen all around the world. What better way to reflect the spirt of sailing than through remembering this little bit of history.

Captain Matt Wierzbach

Matt is the founder and instructor at Kilroy Sail Training. He began sailing on Lake Michigan at the age of 10 through the Sheboygan Youth Sailing Center. At 16 he bought his first boat, a 19 foot Lightning Class sailboat, before a car and raced extensively as a youth in multiple classes. At 16 he also began working for the Sheboygan Youth Sailing Center and became a certified US Sailing Level 1 Instructor at 18 and has been teaching sailors ever since.

Matt was the Program Director of the Sailing Education Association of Sheboygan (SEAS) for 9 years, the Job Skills Program Director at Rocking the Boat in the Bronx, NY, and most recently was the Executive Director of Community Sailing New Orleans before beginning Kilroy Sail Training to focus more on teaching in larger boats and cruising and racing by sail.

Matt’s Professional Credentials:

  • 25 Ton Master, Great Lakes, USCG

  • US Sailing:

    • Small Boat Instructor Level 2

    • Small Boat Level 1 Instructor Trainer

    • Powerboat Instructor Certification

    • Basic Keelboat Instructor Certification

    • Adaptive Instructor Certification

  • Safe Sport Certified

  • First Aid and CPR Certified

Captain Matt at the helm of Kilroy on Lake Pontchartrain, New Orleans.

Sailing Vessel Kilroy

Hull Type:Fin w/bulb & spade rudder

Rigging Type:Fractional Sloop

LOA:32.75 ft

LOD:31.00 ft

LWL:26.50 ft

S.A. (reported):523.00 ft

Beam:11.50 ft

Displacement:9,800.00 lb

Ballast:4,000.00 lb

Max Draft:6.25 ft

Construction:FG

First Built:2005

Last Built:2012

Builder:Catalina Yachts

Designer:Gerry Douglas

Catalina 309

Catalina 309

Contact us

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