My Sailing Resume

I've been sailing since I was 13, 50 years now!  I sailed quite frequently while in college using the schools' boats, and upon graduation I found a job working in a boatyard, restored my own wooden sailboat, and sailed whenever I could find a ride.  I've owned several boats of my own including three different Lasers, a wooden Lightning that is still being restored, a wooden Hampton One design, and the Opti that I built for my kids along w/ various canoes and kayaks.  I also have a 36' cruising boat that I race on Chesapeake Bay and offshore. A 2002 J42 is my latest boat.

In the early 1990's I started spending more time on BIG boats and realized I needed to keep a log of my sailing experience.  By last count I have sailed on over 75 different designs. With 40,000 miles of Blue Water sailing, countless days of Chesapeake sailing in all conditions in various boats, and frostbiting in my Laser, I have a pretty wide range of experience.  However, a few of the boats I sail or have made passages on are as follows:

At least 9 different "J" Boats for racing
43' Hans Christian ketch
69' 12 Meter America's Cup 1962 defender WEATHERLY for a delivery.
48' Swan for several offshore passages and races
47' Moorings 4700 Catamaran (Leopard 47) Annapolis to Ft. Lauderdale
40' CS 40  Several Offshore and Bay races as Bowman and watch captain.
65' 3 masted schooner motorsailor  Maine to Northern Newfoundland
Oyster 54 and 66  for part of the Oyster World Rally
Outbound 46 delivery to Antigua with my wife as Mate
Balance 526 catamaran Panama-Marquesas
​, 
Bermuda 1-2 Race on my own CS 36M 2015,2017,2023 Skipper
Annapolis/Newport Race 2009,2011,2019
Newport/Bermuda Race  2004,2012,2014,2016,2022  Watch Captain or Navigator
Newport/Bermuda Race 2023 double handed
Annapolis/Bermuda Race 2002,2010  Watch Captain
Marion Bermuda Race  2013  Double handed
Trans Atlantic Canaries/Cape Verde/Grenada on an Oyster 655  2013
Chicago/Mackinac Race  2003,2015,2016

In 2018 my wife and I crewed for 2 different boats in the Oyster World Rally: New Zealand to South Africa via Vanuatu, Australia, Indonesia, across the Indian Ocean; 11,600+ miles.  Oyster 54 and Oyster 66

For several years I was a co-owner of 3 (three) 30 foot sailboats through a sailing club; Catalina 30, S2 9.2, and a Catalina 320 of which I was the boat captain responsible for all maintenance and logistics.
Since 1 DEC 2011  I have been the proud owner of a 1989 Canadian Sailcraft CS 36 Merlin (CS 36M) named DIANTHUS which I have raced and cruised all over Chesapeake Bay as well as raced single-handed to Bermuda and double-handed back to Newport.  We routinely put over 1000 miles a year on the boat just in the Chesapeake! We now own a 2002 J42.

I've built/restored several boats and have a good working knowledge of boats as well as good seamanship and sail handling skills, and a better than average knowledge of how to fix stuff that breaks.  I have taught sailing both informally as well as with my previous sailing association, and through a sailing school.  

I hold a USCG 100 ton Near Coastal MASTERS license with Sail endorsement.  (defined as up to 200 miles offshore; the highest certification available without going to work on large commercial craft)

I am current in my Safety at Sea Seminar  (2022) as well as First Aid and CPR and am PADI dive qualified.  

Professionally I was an air traffic controller from 1986 until I retired in 2017; dealing w/ imminent situations while remaining calm being an important attribute!  

References available upon request.
Please feel free to contact me at sailordave@gmail.com
7/2024