Crew Bios

John is the co-creator of Squall Girl and, most importantly… the rock and love of this Squall Girls life. While navigating his career in the Mortgage Banking Software industry, he has perfected work, life, and sailing balance. John first stepped onboard his father’s sailboat at age 4 and has never looked back. They grew up sailing in the Narragansett Bay area, and their first offshore double-handed delivery from Bermuda at age 17, and that got him hooked. He has competed in 6 Newport Bermuda 1-2 races as return crew and (four on his dad’s boat except for 2021 and 2023), 3 Bermuda crew races, many years of local Wednesday night sailing regattas. Both on friends’ boats and the family fleet of various boats from 24-40 feet that have been owned over the past 30 years.

We moved from Southeastern MA to Mystic in 1995 and got involved with the Mudheads. Then, we got our sons involved in junior sailing as soon as we could lie about their age. Then we joined Ram Island YC, and they both learned to sail and race Optis, Blue Jays, and 420’s. To keep them involved, we bought our J24 in 2015.

As SG says, boats, boats, boats…

A current senior at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Lily is the Social Media Manager for Squall Girl Blog. She has held previous positions as an intern and manager for other businesses, most notably working with the Alumni Relations Office at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Throughout her years in the social media industry, she can be attributed to helping facilitate the growth and following of various accounts. Growing up in Stonington, CT, she spent her summers on the water sailing with her friends and family. Most notably, she competed in the Newport to Bermuda Race in June 2022 aboard Spitfire, a Corell ‘45. Until recently, she lived aboard SV Magic Bus, a Simonis ‘56 with her parents, brother, and dog, Boomer. This summer she will continue sharing her sailing knowledge as the 420 Race Coach at Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, MD. With her passion for sailing and experience with social media management, she was a natural fit for this position and we are super excited to have her on board! 

Have social media management needs? Reach out to Lily at [email protected]

Courtney Moore is part of the fabric of the Mystic area’s business and volunteer community. She was educated at Southern Connecticut State University; worked in the newspaper industry, the pre-press magazine industry and served as a grant writer for a non-profit nature center in Colorado. In 2006, Courtney partnered with Maura Blaney to found CMB Creative Group. Courtney serves as the public relations liaison for multiple clients assisting with marketing, design, marketing, sales and event planning.

Meet Maura Blaney, the Website Manager of Squall Girl Blog and a driving force behind CMB Creative Group, a vibrant marketing company nestled in the picturesque Mystic, CT. With a diverse skill set ranging from graphic design to web expertise, Maura infuses every project with her innovative thinking and unwavering commitment to staying ahead of the curve with the latest software trends.

A graduate of Plymouth State University, Maura earned her BA in graphic design and ceramics, complemented by a minor in art history, against the breathtaking backdrop of the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Now residing in the charming town of Mystic with her husband, beloved chocolate lab rescue, and cherished daughter, Maura finds inspiration in both the coastal beauty of her surroundings and the boundless possibilities of her creative pursuits.