A Little Background Information
Dave Conrad, owner and chief wrench-turner at Solstice Sailing, has been sailing the Great Lakes, Caribbean, Gulf Coast and beyond for about 20 years. Coming from a family of “blow boaters”, at an early age Dave’s father planted the sailing bug and taught valuable lessons like “prepare for the gusts and secure your beer”. After college, Dave left for the Caribbean to stay with other family members who were cruising and living aboard their 39’ ferro-cement sloop. A visit turned into lifestyle and after 4 years of racking up sea time on everything from Swans to motorsailers, Dave got his 100 ton Masters USCG license.
Over the years Dave’s co-owned and operated a 47’ catamaran daysail business, managed bareboat fleets in the Caribbean and on the Great Lakes, delivered boats of all sizes and in all weather conditions (sunshine, rain, sleet or snow!) and sailed with literally hundreds of charter groups including corporate outings, family reunions, yacht club flotillas, weddings, wakes and everything in between!
While working in St. Thomas, Dave met a lovely lady from Boston named Kristen who lived on St. John. After a year of ferry-hopping dating, Dave wooed Kristen into working with him aboard a new 90’ sailing catamaran. A social worker by degree, Kristen was the stewardess and Dave captained. A defining moment came when Dave saw Kristen bring a tray of appetizers out from the galley for a bunch of sea sick charter guests in 12 foot rolling seas and 30 knot winds; she was the girl he had to marry. Today, Kristen is most likely that friendly voice you’ll hear when calling the Solstice office in the summer.
Dave and Kristen and “Willy the Wonder Mutt” moved to Traverse City, Michigan (Dave’s homeport) and eventually started Solstice Sailing. With a seasonal army of sailing school instructors (check out “instructors” page on the website), boat cleaners and others, they keep the fleet mechanically sound and spotlessly clean. Their personal goal to ensure every sailing school student and charterer has a warm experience and they hope to get every man, woman, child, and the family pet hooked on the feeling of being under sail.
