May 2023 Sailor of the Month: Mark Hejtmanek

Mark Hejtmanek:
3 years – 2 years of sailing as a teenager (dinghy sailing, some racing) and now 1 year in keelboats

Mark Hejtmanek:
San Felipe, Mexico

Mark Hejtmanek:
La Bahia de San Felipe, Baja Mexico

Mark Hejtmanek:
Less than one year

Mark Hejtmanek:
ASA101 and ASA103

Mark Hejtmanek:
Victoria Sailing School in Denver, Colorado

Mark Hejtmanek:
Yes, I currently own a 2000 Catalina Capri 18

Mark Hejtmanek:
Educational standards for various aspects of sailing and the recognition of ASA certification in the USA and internationally

Mark Hejtmanek:
A couple of years ago we bought a house in Baja California to be near my elderly parents – they had retired to a small town in Mexico and have a house on the beach overlooking the Sea of Cortez. After spending much time there, I decided to follow a new dream: sail in the Sea of Cortez. I created a 3-step plan which included 1) finding a school, 2) buying a boat, and 3) transporting the boat to Mexico. In the Spring of 2022, I enrolled in both the ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing and the ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising courses with Victoria Sailing School in Denver. I quickly recalled the physical mechanics of sailing and enjoyed experiencing the difference between sailing a small Laser, and sailing a J-22 keelboat. I completed both certifications by late Summer and in August I found the boat I was looking for – a Catalina Capri 18. The smaller size meant it would be easy for me to sail by myself and I could easily store it at my house and dry sail it until I learned more about the docking facilities at the marina in San Felipe, Mexico. We sailed the Capri 18 in Denver through the Fall and over the Thanksgiving Holiday we transported the boat to Baja California. We sailed several times in the Bay of San Felipe and enjoyed our best day sailing on the day after Christmas 2022. We had 74 degree weather, bright blue sky, and steady 12-15 knot winds with very manageable 1-2 foot swell. The experience was all I hoped it would be and I’m looking forward to our next trip South of the Border in March.

Mark Hejtmanek:
One of my last sailing classes with Victoria Sailing School was with an experienced instructor, but 3 other novice students. I was able to help the instructor teach the other students and about 30 minutes into our 3-hour sail, the wind picked up to 15-20 knots. It was a warm Summer evening and the wind/water conditions were so perfect that the instructor skipped the “normal” on-the-water instruction that night and we just sailed! Everyone got time on the tiller, the main sheet, or the jib sheet. We got some spray over the bow to cool ourselves from the bright sunshine, and a number of times we buried the rail in the water. We finished the evening by catching a magnificent sunset over the Rocky Mountains and pulled into the slip at Chatfield Reservoir just as the sun was going down.

Mark Hejtmanek: The ASA certified course material taught by Victoria Sailing School was instrumental in helping me gain confidence in my sailing knowledge and on-the-water experience. I augmented that material by purchasing the Sailing Made Easy and Coastal Cruising Made Easy books published by the ASA. Those books are well written, contain excellent diagrams and photos, and include practice tests which helped me prepare for my written examinations. My original goal met, sailing in the Sea of Cortez, I’ve now expanded my sailing dreams considerably. I’m interested in additional ASA certifications starting with the ASA104 course which should allow me to bareboat charter a sailboat in another part of the US, or even other parts of the world. I may even try my hand at some coastal cruising too!

Mark Hejtmanek:
ASA certified course material taught by ASA certified instructors means you’re getting world-class knowledge and training. I intend to continue studying and returning to the course material to lock in what I’ve learned the past year. Eventually, the international recognition of the American Sailing Association’s certifications will help me sail elsewhere in the world. I still have much to learn and the ASA is going to help me reach my sailing goals.