STEVE SHENKEL

BIOGRAPHY

After 50 years of sailing and owning 25 sailboats, I still look forward to that first moment just after you raise and trim the sails when the boat leans a little and starts to move through the water under sail power.  I’ll be the first to admit that if you have to get from here to there in a short period of time, the most practical way to do that is to start up the motor and go there.   But if you have left the hustle and bustle of the world behind, if only for a brief afternoon, the most enjoyable way to pursue the journey is to harness nature’s power and to be under sail.

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I learned to sail racing Hobie Cats in the 70’s.  Although today I no longer race, I attribute an accelerated learning curve to sailing principles from racing.  Unless of course, you don’t mind coming in last, racing forces you to learn how to most efficiently make the boat move through the water, learn how to read wind shifts, and beware of obstacles, tides, and currents which may affect your passage over the course you need to complete.

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When it became difficult to crawl into a wetsuit to go sailing Hobie Cats, I started sailing cruising monohulls and this opened the opportunities to sail to destinations such as Catalina Island via trailer sailing and charter in the British Virgin Islands

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After a career as a manufacturing engineer/project manager, I retired in 2013 and had the opportunity to become an ASA Certified Sailing Instructor.  The chance to share my joy of sailing with people new to the sport is a real blessing.  I look forward to an opportunity when we can sail together.