Who Am I?

(As it relates to Sailing)

Background

Until I was age 12, I was raised in Walla Walla Washington.  My family got a small power boat when I was 6 or 7.  I learned to water ski on Lake Walalula along the Columbia River.  When I was 12, we moved to Battle Creek Michigan.  We lived within walking distance of Lake Goguak where (at age 13) I designed and built my first sailboat.  It didn’t look much like a sailboat but I was able to tack into the wind with it. From age 14 to 19, boating and water was not part of my life as my family made Federal Government job moves. 

Navy

I got out of high school and went right into the Navy.  I was fortunate to get into two programs that established a future for me.  After boot camp, I went to electronics school for a year and a half and became an Electronics Technician.  On top of that, I got into the nuclear program and eventually qualified as a submariner and a Reactor Operator on a nuclear missile sub.  By the time I finished with all my classroom schooling, I had been in the Navy for over 4 years of my 6 year commitment.  Over the next year and a half, I made three 60 day patrols and then got a post Vietnam “early out”.  I never felt like the Navy (and tax payers) got their money's worth.

Following Electronics school, I had to “wait” a year and half to start Nuc school.  This was done in San Diego and was great duty.  My later assignment to the sub had me home based in Oahu Hawaii which was also great. Between San Diego and Hawaii, my interest in water sports (sailing, diving, etc.) grew. 

Education

Following almost 6 years in the Navy, I got a business degree at the University of Kansas.  Lawrence is about 40 miles west of Kansas City and about 10 miles NW of there is Lake Perry.  I became the Fleet Captain of the KU Sailing Team and sailed and raced every summer.

Interests

I’ve always had an interest in mechanical and electrical things. I’m a tinkerer and a fixer. When I was a kid, I built home stereo components from a kit.  I got my ham radio license and built a transmitter that I used (using Morse code) to communicated with other operators as far away (from Washington DC) the Midwest.  I never considered myself a geek but I did some pretty geeky things.  I was into 35mm photography for 20 years including B&W printing. Since the advent of personal computers, I’ve tinkered with the hardware and software – even considered starting a business. 

Outdoors wise, I have sailed since I was 13 and raced for several years.  I have had somewhat of a passion for performance wind surfing for the last 25 years.  I’ve road and mountain biked for the last 15 years and downhill snow skied for the last 6 years.  I currently own a 31’ Pearson sailboat on the Chesapeake Bay north of Baltimore.

Employment

I’m  officially retired but work part time doing only things I love to do:
- In the Baltimore Inner Harbor area, I crew for charters on the Pintita sailing vessel. 
- Also in the Inner Harbor, I skipper small 23’ keel boats for Getaway Sailing. 
- In Annapolis, I went through all the training last year and hope to start as a coach for J-World Performance Sailing School in 2014.

Personal

I have two children and two grandchildren.  Joan is my “significant other”.  They all work or go to school and periodically sail with me.