At Sail Olympia we strive to share our love for the water, teaching, great food, and adventure with others.
After taking classes, teaching, and chartering with other companies, we began dreaming of a new kind of a sailing school.
Sail Olympia is that dream: a sailing school that focuses not only on technical competencies but on partnering and communication. In addition to bringing our experience sailing as a couple and our backgrounds in education, we want to focus on the details that turn a certification class into the ultimate vacation — excellent food, a relaxing environment, and wonderful company.
Ben
I grew up boating with my father and grandfather, and some of my earliest and happiest memories are from those times. For me, time on the water has always been a calming and healing influence in our hectic world.
I have spent the past 20 years boating in the Puget Sound and along western Canada. I live here because I love the waters here. I teach here because I want to share my passion for these waters, for boating, and for the amazing wildlife that lives here. There is nothing more magical than putting the sails up and turning off the engine. I call it ‘life at 6 miles per hour’…and I’m sure it will bring a huge smile to your face.
I have a US Coast Guard Masters (Captain) license and am an ASA certified instructor. I teach both power boating and sail boating, with an emphasis on showing people how to calmly and confidently approach challenging situations. Before starting Sail Olympia, I taught at other ASA schools and also spent 20 years as an Electrical Engineer in high tech. A lot of planning, good decisions and, quite honestly, luck allowed us to leave that life behind and pursue our dream of spending life at 6 knots!
beth
I had always dreamed of sailing, but I didn’t know how to get started. I didn’t realize how taking a weekend sailing course on the river would turn into buying a boat or starting a sailing school.
Meritage was our wedding gift to each other and it has come to hold treasured memories of time together as well as with our family. My two favorite parts of sailing are docking and the moment that the wind grabs the sail while I turn off the engine. I particularly love docking because of the constant mental challenge it provides.
I am a USCG master and ASA certified instructor and co-lead all of the Sail Olympia couples courses and adventure cruises. With previous experience in eduction, I have worked with Ben to reconsider how sailing is taught and to thoughtfully design engaging courses. After leaving behind a 20-year career in high-tech, I now get to enjoy more time restoring old buildings and gourmet cooking. I also love hiking, cycling and adventure travel.
The dogs
COCOA a.k.a. Donkey
Cocoa is a 15 year old labradoodle that has taken quite well to the cruising lifestyle. Cocoa no longer travels with the school but may visit the Happy Hour get togethers.
OBAMA a.k.a. Little Donkey
Obama is a 3 year old Portuguese Water Dog. He has become a great boat dog and travels on most of our trips. Please advice us if you have allergies that would prevent him from coming.