Eight Bells: Diana Mautz

Sailing lost a true friend on March 14, 2024 when Diana Mautz passed away peacefully while surrounded by family at her home in St. Michaels, Maryland. She would have turned 80 years of age on March 29.

Diana was a champion of youth sailing on the Chesapeake Bay during the 80s, 90s, and 00s. She actively directed youth sailing programs at the Tred Avon Yacht Club, Miles River Yacht Club, and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, all on a volunteer basis.

At her height, she educated 100s of youth sailors each year. Diana was always generous with her time, energy, ideas, and financial support – she would do whatever it took to expand her programs and get kids on the water.

Diana used sailing to teach sportsmanship, integrity, teamwork, and humility. She was successful in teaching these things and she created dozens of college sailing all-Americans and several Olympic hopefuls along the way. For Diana’s sailors, however, the result was always secondary (though they were very good!), but how you carried yourself and how you treated everyone else was how she judged success.

Cruising sailors know the Carpenters Street Saloon in St. Michaels, MD that Diana and her family have owned and operated for decades. She will be missed and her spirit will live on through the many, many lives she touched throughout her lifetime.