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Meet Our Winning Crew … (photos coming soon...)

Dave Dykstra enjoys sharing his 35 years’ worth of sailing experience with his students through many captivating stories. He has a true passion for teaching sailing and believes that good communication is vital for the safe operation of a vessel. Dave was named Midwest ASA Instructor of the Year in 1988 and is a retired public school biology/ science teacher. Dave not only enjoys sailing, but also enjoys building wooden kayaks.

Than Dykstra is a natural teacher and enjoys sharing his love for sailing with his students. He’s not only a sailing instructor, but also a high school soccer coach, a X-country skiing coach, and in his spare time, a junior high science teacher. “Be safe and have fun” are his top lessons. Than often can be found sailing his Laser faster than most people drive their cars.

Bryan Smith has logged thousands of miles on the Great Lakes and has “certified over 500 students”. Bryan’s popularity as an instructor can be attributed to his upbeat personality. In addition to teaching sailing classes, he also teaches/evaluates USCG courses around the Midwest.

Dan Spyhalski is a 30-year sailing veteran who lives on his Cal 40 ”Spyke” on Grand Traverse Bay – year round. His “onboard” wood stove is a necessity in the cold northern Michigan winters. According to Dan, northern Lake Michigan offers the best sailing in the world. Dan believes the most important lesson in sailing is confidence. Dan had the honor of being named an ASA Outstanding Instructor in 2006.

Jessica Gerber feels truly free when sailing. She actually learned to sail before she could walk. Jessica enjoys instructing the Women’s Only classes and finds her students “enthusiastic, easy learners who take the course seriously while having a great time together. Sailing is not about just being physically strong but, more important, it’s about is being smart.”

Matt Stargardt is a junior high teacher who also called the 55’ schooner “Appledore” home for 5 years while serving as Mate. He has enjoyed the sport of sailing for nearly 20 years and loves sharing his passion for this exhilarating sport with eager students. Licensed USCG Captain.

Ken Stepnitz’s respect for Mother Nature and the water is evident through his teachings. A retired college professor, he looks at sailing with a physicist’s eye. As part of his class syllabus, Ken now provides his account of a first-hand rescue of a capsized trimaran during the Chicago-Mac race.

Dave Williams has been a sailing instructor for over 20 years and was named an ASA Outstanding Instructor in 2006. He finds teaching extremely rewarding, especially when it “all comes together” for a student. Dave enjoys sailing northern Lake Michigan at night under a canopy of stars, passing the long boats and watching the distant lights, calling it a “spiritual experience.”

Dirk Wissbaum has been around water most of his life - from a Mississippi Riverboat worker, a crewman for sailing schooners and cruisers to a former US Navy engineer. He finds it very rewarding to teach sailors new skills and to pass along his wealth of knowledge. Dirk believes that boat handling is a most important lesson for his students.

Ryan Valerio, in addition to being a certified ASA instructor and Licensed USCG Captain, is also a naval engineer and active boat builder. Ryan is a new addition to our Instructor Roster and we are thrilled to have him on board.

Keith Forton is a Traverse City native who is part of a sailing family that has been involved in the sailing community for generations. Keith is a licensed USCG Captain as well as a high school physics teacher. Keith has also been teaching his own custom programs like Radar and GPS which are offered to the community.