Sailboats Inc. Instructors

All Sailboats Inc. instructors must hold a captain’s license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard.  Their training entails a minimum of 2,880 hours on the water, an equivalent of more than 5 years of full-time study. They must then retest every 5 years.

Our licensed instructors are trained to teach a schedule of carefully planned drills and exercises, tailored to promote safety and build cruising skills.

Come learn to sail with the best!

Capt. Mike

Mike has a Master’s degree in Education and has taught high school, college and adult technology courses.

He taught himself to sail while growing up on the shores of Lake Superior, then received formal sailing instruction while stationed in the Mediterranean with the U.S. Air Force.  He is a licensed USCG Captain who has been teaching for Sailboats Inc. since 1980.

“I enjoy helping people learn and experience personal growth through sailing.  Watching people, even those who may be somewhat apprehensive, build confidence in their new found skills and abilities is very rewarding.”

Capt. Beth

Captain Beth loves to sail!  She has been sailing for the majority of her life on the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, the Mediterranean and the Great Lakes.  She was charter master in Sturgeon Bay and has taught at all of the Sailboats Inc. locations.  Presently, she is sailing out of Bayfield.  Come and learn a life-long hobby, join the fun!

Beth holds a 100 ton masters license and she has been teaching for Sailboats Inc. for the past 27 years.

Capt. Terry

With over 30 years of experience, Terry has a lot of stories to tell.  If he’s not living aboard his Morgan Out Island 41 during the off season, he is teaching a sailing instruction course, captaining a charter or racing his 26’ S-2 7.9.  What a life!

Capt. Leo

Leo has been sailing for over 45 years, since his teenage scow days on Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis.  Bigger boats and bigger water lured him to Lake Superior in 1976, where he has sailed all of its shores and some of its shallow (but don’t ask).  Thirty-five years as a commercial litigator in Minneapolis has taught him that “sailing should be the antithesis of the courtroom.”

From his perspective as a daily yoga and meditation practitioner, Leo teaches what he calls the Zen of Sailboating: a combination of relaxation, fun, safety and intuitive boat handling – a comfortable feel for the wind on your face and the boat under your feet.

Licensed USCG Captain for 20 years.

Capt. Sue

Sue has spent many years living aboard and cruising the waters of the Bahamas and Caribbean to Venezuela after 25 years of active sailboat racing on inland lakes, the Great lakes and ocean.  As a result, although she enjoys teaching how to sail fast, she is also able to teach how to enjoy a safe and comfortable sailing lifestyle.  When she is not in Wisconsin, she co-ordinates a Junior Sailing Program in the Bahamas.

Sue holds a 100 ton masters license and she has been teaching for Sailboats Inc. for the past 25 years.

Capt. Dianne

Captain Dianne has been enjoying the wonderful sport of sailing for the past 25 years.  She has been sharing her love of sailing with many friends and students the last 15 years by teaching for Sailboats Inc. and other organizations.  Dianne has such a compassion for sailing that she lives on her 43 ft. Beneteau in the Caribbean during the winter months of the year.  This allows her to always have summer year round in her life.  In the MN summers when she is not teaching sailing, she sails on her 22 ft. Chrysler sailboat on Lake Pepin, MN.  To finance all the endeavors, Dianne does have a “real” job which is being the owner of her own financial planning business in Minneapolis, MN.  Dianne welcomes the opportunity to teach individuals the “ropes of sailing.”  She’ll also throw in a few sea stories on the side.

Capt. Jack

Currently employed as an electrical engineer, Jack’s passion is sailing.  During his 15 years of experience, he has made boat deliveries and vacationed to numerous ports on Lake Michigan.  Jack truly enjoys seeing the students increase their sailing skills throughout the course and sharing the opportunities that this sport has to offer.