Gus is a high school sailor from San Francisco who set out to rethink one of the sailing's oldest quirks — the tennis ball drain plug. Gus saw firsthand how the tennis ball “fix” worked, but also how it weighed boats down, got waterlogged easily, added drag, and cluttered up otherwise beautiful hulls.

In 2023, he began designing what would become the ProPlug™ — a lighter, cleaner, and more sustainable alternative built specifically for CFJ, C420, and 420E sailboats. After countless prototypes, he finalized a design that’s now being used by teams across the country.

With ProPlug, Gus combines his love of sailing, engineering, and environmental responsibility. His mission is simple: to make small but meaningful innovations that improve the sport while reducing its impact on the waters we sail in.

More from Gus: A DIY enthusiast with a passion for electric vehicles, Gus planned, designed, and built "The Nacho" Electric Motorcycle from scratch using wood, metal, and NO WELDING!!!!​ In his free time, Gus loves to sail, bike, run, and build websites.