American Sailing is a worldwide sailing education organization started 40 years ago by our founder Lenny Shabes. Back then, Lenny saw a need for a structured sailing education system and set out to build what you know as American Sailing today. 40 years have passed, and today American Sailing boasts sailing schools around the globe and over half a million certified sailors who have earned over 1.3 million sailing certifications.
The foundation of the ASA Sailing education lies in the strength of our instructors. Let us introduce you to some of the people who share their passion for sailing with students on a regular basis.
American Sailing is one large family, and these are just a few of the people who continue to grow our sailing community.
Meet an American Sailing Instructor
CAPTAIN JEREMIAH SWETEL OF ERIE ISLANDS SAILING
Jeremiah started his journey with boating at the age of ten in Cleveland. He has extensive experience sailing and boating in all parts of Lake Erie. Jeremiah also enjoys racing at his yacht club and sailing with friends and family. Jeremiah holds his USCG 25T Master Near Coastal license with Sailing and Towing endorsements and is certified by the American Sailing Association to teach ASA 101, 103, and 104.
Captain Genevieve Evans of Go Sail Virgin Islands and Go Sail Flathead Lake
Captain Genevieve Evans is the owner of two sailing schools, Go Sail Flathead Lake in Montana and Go Sail Virgin Islands in the US Virgin Islands. She seems to have a perpetual smile on her face, and she loves nothing better than being out on the water and sharing her love for sailing with new students.
As the owner of St. Augustine Sailing, Captain Rose Ann Points manages the company’s various member clubs, the local SailTime franchise, American Sailing Association School, and the new and used boat sales brokerage. Rose Ann founded a variety of team-building programs and sailing activities. She established Women on the Water (WOW) to enhance the lives of women through education, practical application and access to sailing vessels, and to develop skills to sail with confidence.
Captain Bill Moreland at Modern Sailing School is a 40-year veteran of sailing. Like many, he just went to the water and began sailing, only to fall in love with the lifestyle. These days he is an Instructor Evaluator for the American Sailing Association. He loves to share his passion for sailing with others and has led trips around the world.
CAPTAIN DIMITRIS BAMPAKOS OF FAIRWINDS SAILING SCHOOL Greece
If your bucket list has space for another sailing destination, you should consider Greece. If you add Greece, you need to add Captain Dimitris Bampakos. His love for sailing and the ocean is only exceeded by his love for the sailing grounds of Corfu, Greece. His passion for the ocean and sharing his knowledge of sailing are what attract new sailors to Fairwinds Sailing School in Corfu, Greece.
CAPTAIN MARGARET POMMERT, SEATTLE SAILING AND SAN JUAN SAILING
Captain Margaret Pommert is the recipient of the BoatUS/National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award. The award annually recognizes an individual with a record of achievement in inspiring, educating, and enriching women’s lives through sailing.
CAPTAIN JEREMY E. ELWELL OF REEF RUNNER SAILING SCHOOL
A quick read into Captain Jeremy’s background and you might be motivated to leave your life, get on a boat and find a new wife. Sailing does that to you and this month’s featured instructor is an example of the sailing lifestyle taking you in and never allowing you to leave.
Captain Hillary Howes found the magic of sailing in the San Francisco Bay and her life has taken her across the country to the Chesapeake, where she teaches for Annapolis Sailing School. As her professional career wound down, she turned to sailing and boats and now her next chapter involves sharing her love for the wind in her sails with new students.
Learning to Sail with Vagabonde Adventures: Embark on a Bahamas Adventure Embark on an unforgettable Bahamas adventure with American Sailing School Vagabonde Adventures, in the sun-kissed Abaco Islands. Your instructors are Jack Karger, Eta Covo, and Hugo Picard — a youthful and yet widely experienced crew sure to help you create unforgettable memories and sailing skills to last you a lifetime.
Gratitude Sailing InstituteEssex, Maryland Embark on a transformative sailing journey with The Gratitude Sailing Institute, where expertise meets excellence. As an esteemed American Sailing affiliate, we are committed to setting a higher standard for your sailing education from the moment you step aboard. Join us to experience a program embodying the key elements of…
Careers If you are looking for a rewarding and exciting career in the sailing industry, look no further than American Sailing. We are the leading authority on sailing education and certification, with over 500,000 certified sailors and 400 schools across the globe.
